Renewable energy in Morocco

The National Plan for the Development of Solar Thermal Energy, formulated in 2001, aims to install 440,000 solar-powered water heaters by 2012, of which 235,000 are completed.

[6] In 2008 Morocco announced plans for a new campus providing knowledge-based services to strengthen research and training in clean technology.

Morocco has since pledged to increase the renewables in its electricity mix to 52% by 2030, made up of 20% solar, 20% wind and 12% hydro.

[7] In November 2009 Morocco announced a solar energy project worth $9 billion which officials said will account for 38 percent of the North African country's installed power generation by 2020.

[8] The project would add in terms of power generation the equivalent of the current electricity consumption of the country's commercial capital Casablanca.

Germany has expressed its willingness to participate in the development of Morocco's solar energy project[9] which the country has decided to carry out, as did the World Bank.

The Tanger and Tetouan region (North of Morocco) measured particularly high at 8 to 11 m/s, and 7 to 8.5 m/s were recorded for Dakhla, Tarfaya, Taza and Essaouira.

Morocco has launched one of the world’s largest solar energy projects costing an estimated $9 billion.

[16] The Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (MASEN), a public-private venture, was established to lead the project.

Morocco has additional renewable resources that could be developed, which the countries four perennial rivers and many dams with hydroelectric potential.