Morocco poised to develop sea currents energy
Morocco is about to draw a roadmap for the exploration of marine current energy, announced the Minister of Energy.
A specialized commission, including representatives of the energy and mining departments, the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN), the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE), and the Solar Energy and New Energies Research Institute (IRSEN), will draft the roadmap, said Aziz Rabbah.
Rabbah who deemed the establishment of the commission “necessary” called for the development of medium and long-term projects capable of contributing to the diversification of energy sources. He also called for promoting scientific research in the field.
The announcement of the marine current energy commission falls under the vision of King Mohammed VI, who said in his Green March speech on November 7 that economic development in Morocco’s southern provinces should focus on maritime potential.
The King expressed firm commitment to make the Sahara an engine of development at the regional and continental levels through, inter alia, tapping into its maritime potential.
“To complement the major projects implemented in our southern provinces, I think the time has come to exploit the region’s enormous maritime potential,” the monarch said.
The King added that such projects seek to make the country’s southern provinces a hub of maritime trade.
The Southern provinces are poised to serve as a bridge between Morocco and its African roots, said the king, adding that it is important to invest in marine areas, whether with regard to seawater desalination or renewable energy, exploiting, to this end, wind turbine generators and tidal energy.
Morocco’s energy strategy aims at developing renewable energies, supporting energy efficiency and achieving a minimum 52 pc renewable energy mix by 2030.
A report from Morocco’s Economic, Social, and Environmental Council (CESE) forecasts that the country has the potential to produce 96% of its electricity using renewable energy by 2050.
Morocco’s investments in renewable energy exceeded $5.65 billion over the past 10 years.
