- Morocco’s solar ambition strengthens its renewable energy plan with record Chinese solar imports.
- Morocco’s solar ambition targets 52% renewable electricity by 2030 with major grid investments.
Morocco’s solar ambition has placed the country among Africa’s leading importers of Chinese solar panels. A new report by Ember, an energy tracking group, confirmed Morocco imported 915 megawatts in the 12 months to June 2025. This makes the country Africa’s fourth-largest importer, behind Algeria, Nigeria, and South Africa.
South Africa dominates the continent, importing 3,784 megawatts within the same period. Nigeria follows with 1,721 megawatts, while Algeria imported 1,199 megawatts. Other active importers include Egypt with 854 megawatts, Tunisia with 655, and Senegal with 519. Smaller markets, like Mauritania and Niger, imported less than 50 megawatts.
Across Africa, solar panel imports surged by 60 per cent in one year, reaching 15,032 megawatts. Ember reported that twenty countries recorded new highs in imports, with 25 now importing at least 100 megawatts each. This shows increasing reliance on Chinese panels, as Africa still struggles with domestic manufacturing capacity.
China produces around 80 per cent of the world’s solar panels, making it the largest exporter. Morocco, however, has doubled its manufacturing to one gigawatt per year, joining South Africa as a continental leader in production. Smaller manufacturing plants also exist in Egypt and Nigeria, though capacity remains limited.
Morocco’s solar ambition goes beyond imports. The government aims to generate 52 per cent of its electricity from renewables by 2030. Currently, renewable energy supplies nearly 20 per cent of the country’s demand, with capacity standing at 5.4 gigawatts. The government plans to invest $3 billion in grid upgrades by 2030, and an additional $40 billion in renewable energy and efficiency projects.
Minister of Energy Leila Benali explained that half the investment will focus on renewable energy, while the other half will target interconnection between Africa and Europe.
Despite this progress, Africa faces a wider energy crisis. The UN reports that around 600 million people still lack access to reliable electricity, representing 80 per cent of the global gap. While North Africa and parts of West and Southern Africa show progress, Central Africa and the Sahel remain severely behind. Initiatives like Africa’s A2030 vision aim to close this gap by 2030.