Morocco is making significant strides towards a greener future with the construction of a major solar plant in Ouarzazate. This ambitious project aims to achieve green energy, net zero emissions, and generate renewable electricity by 2030.

Ouarzazate

Morocco is actively working towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future through its construction of a substantial solar power facility in Ouarzazate. The initiative is part of a broader ambition for the country to operate on green energy, reach net zero emissions, and produce renewable electricity exclusively by the year 2030. This project underscores Morocco's commitment to combating climate change and advancing towards energy independence with renewable sources.



Morocco's plan to become a renewable energy powerhouse

This is one of the world's largest solar plants. Built in the desert city of Ouarzazate, it's part of a major plan to shift to green energy. The abundant sunshine may soon be crucial to power homes, not only here in Morocco, but also further afield. But the government's ambitions don't end there. The North African country wants to produce a surplus of clean power. We have one of the largest storage facilities worldwide for such kind of technology that allow us to produce electricity from sun even during the evening for around eight hours during the night. Morocco wants to produce 10 gigawatts a year of electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Engineers are working high up in the mountains, erecting new turbines to harness the power of the wind. This wind farm is on Europe's doorstep, and for a reason. Morocco wants to produce enough electricity from renewables and export it to a Europe that is turning gradually towards green energy and taking steps to end its dependence on Russian gas imports. Paul Noumbaoum is the World Bank Regional Director of Infrastructure for the Middle East and North Africa. He advises governments on energy security and efficiency. This is really a game changer. I mean, countries which used to depend on oil imports, with the emergence of renewable energy, be it solar or wind, can now reduce their dependency on oil imports. Clean energy isn't just helping Morocco reduce costs. It could soon be driving the economy. The government is allocating a million hectares to hydrogen projects, possibly putting the country on a path to net-zero emissions in the future. Foreign investors are already keen to get involved, building facilities to produce more clean power and store it for as long as it takes to sell globally. Hashem Al Barra Al Jazeera, Tangiers, Morocco.

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