Morocco aims to invest $7 billion to increase its installed energy capacity by 9 gigawatts by 2027, announced energy minister Leila Benali on Wednesday.
During a conference on batteries in Rabat, Benali disclosed that renewables would account for 6.5GW of the additional capacity. Currently, renewable capacity stands at 4.5GW, comprising 37.6% of the total capacity, according to the electricity regulator.
Since 2009, Morocco has allocated $6 billion to renewables to raise their share in the country’s energy mix to 52% by 2050, primarily through solar and wind investments.
“We need to prioritize investments in areas such as grids, storage, and batteries to foster renewable development in our nation,” Benali emphasized.
Coal accounts for approximately 70% of Morocco’s electricity production, while renewable energy contributed 20% last year, based on official statistics.
In March, the government announced plans to construct liquefied natural gas infrastructure in the Mediterranean port of Nador, connecting it with a pipeline for importing gas from Spanish LNG terminals.
“Natural gas plays a critical role in our energy transition,” stressed the minister.
Earlier this year, the government introduced incentives and designated 1 million hectares for its green hydrogen initiative, aiming to attract investors for both domestic consumption and exports.
Green hydrogen, generated by electrolyzing water using renewable energy, is anticipated to play a pivotal role in decarbonizing industries.