The Moroccan National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) has officially commissioned the 270 MW Jbel Lahdid wind farm, achieving a major milestone in Morocco’s renewable energy journey.
The project, located in Essaouira province along the Essaouira-Safi national road, features 54 wind turbines, each with a capacity of 5 MW, and is expected to generate 952 GWh of electricity annually—enough to power a city of 1.2 million people such as Marrakech or Tangiers.
The large-scale renewable project is a result of a public-private partnership between ONEE, Nareva Holding, and Enel Green Power, with an investment of $330 million.
The commissioning of Jbel Lahdid boosts Morocco’s total renewable energy capacity to 5,440 MW, with wind energy contributing 2,400 MW, equivalent to 45% of the country’s electricity generation capacity.
The wind farm alone is projected to cut CO2 emissions by approximately 580,000 tonnes per year to support Morocco’s commitment to sustainable energy development.
Morocco has been steadily advancing its renewable energy capacity. The commissioning of the Jbel Lahdid wind farm forms part of a larger strategy to enhance renewable energy sources in the country.
Currently, Morocco’s energy mix includes contributions from solar, wind, and hydropower. Wind energy leads with 2,400 MW, while solar power stands at 0.9 GW, supported by major projects like the Noor Solar Power Plant in Ouarzazate, which is one of the largest in the world with an installed capacity of 580 MW.
Hydropower has also grown, with a total installed capacity of 1,770 MW by the end of 2022, and a 350 MW Pumped Energy Transfer Station (PETS) under construction at the Abdelmoumen site.
Morocco’s energy consumption is expected to grow by 3% annually over the next decade, with total energy demand projected to nearly double by 2050. By 2030, the country aims to produce 64 TWh (terawatt hours) of electricity, up from 38 TWh in 2020. The growing reliance on renewables is essential for meeting this increased demand while reducing dependency on fossil fuels.
Morocco plans to increase its total energy capacity from 11 GW to 20 GW by 2027, with 6.5 GW coming from renewable sources.
By 2030, the country aims to have 4 GW of solar capacity and 2.2 GW of wind capacity, raising the share of renewables in its power mix to 52%. Longer-term, Morocco plans to achieve 80% renewables by 2050.
In addition to expanding wind and solar energy, Morocco has set its sights on becoming a global leader in green hydrogen production.
In 2022, Morocco signed agreements with Germany and other European nations to develop green hydrogen initiatives, with the aim of capturing 4% of the global hydrogen market by 2030.
As part of the efforts, the Moroccan government plans to allocate 1 million hectares to green hydrogen projects, starting with 300,000 hectares in the first phase to attract international investors.
The focus on green hydrogen highlights Morocco’s commitment to not only meeting its own energy needs sustainably but also positioning itself as a key renewable energy exporter, particularly to European markets.
Morocco’s proactive policies and extensive investment in renewable energy have positioned the country as a leader in the African renewable energy landscape. It has far outpaced regional peers such as Egypt and Algeria in terms of green energy development.
The Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN) plays a key role in driving these projects, with Morocco emerging as one of the first African nations to develop a green hydrogen strategy.
Morocco has fostered public-private partnerships to drive its energy transition, securing green financing from global institutions such as the World Bank and the European Investment Bank (EIB).
Its energy development strategy was showcased during COP22 in 2016, when Morocco hosted the event and demonstrated its commitment to sustainable development on a global stage.
The economic growth of Morocco’s key industries, such as automobiles, phosphate mining, and agriculture, is a significant driver of its growing energy needs. Also, rapid urbanisation, population growth, and the expansion of the tourism sector add seasonal peaks in electricity demand. As Morocco aims to become a renewable energy exporter to Europe, investments in infrastructure and energy capacity are key to meeting both domestic and international demand.
