Morocco, Champion of renewable energies, leads the way in Africa (France Info)
Champion of renewable energies, Morocco, forerunner in solar and water resources mobilization, shows the way on the African continent, underlined the French France Info media.
“The Kingdom, which hosted the COP22 in 2016, always wants to be at the forefront of the fight against global warming. In Glasgow, it announced that it was working on 50 renewable energy projects with an installed capacity of 3,950 MW, the equivalent of 3 to 4 nuclear reactors,” noted the French public radio.
“The country, which has little oil and gas, already produces more than 4,000 megawatts of wind and solar energy, a reference in Africa. The share of renewable energy could exceed 60% in 2030,” wrotes France info on its website.
Having traveled to Glasgow to attend the COP26, the new Moroccan head of government Aziz Akhannouch announced a strengthening of the Kingdom’s climate ambitions, says the French radio, noting that the Moroccan authorities have set the goal of reducing greenhouse gases by 45.5% by 2030 and to quickly reach 52% of sustainable electricity. To date, 37% of Morocco’s electrical power is generated by renewable energy.
The new Moroccan government, adds the French public media, wants to put the turbo on research in the sectors of hydrogen, energy efficiency of buildings, smart grids (electrical network optimizing through digital distribution and consumption) and electric mobility, optimization of water, energy.
Morocco is a forerunner with its Noor Ouarzazate solar power plant with a capacity of 580 MW launched in 2009, one of the largest in the world. It provides electricity to more than a million households and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by one million tons per year, notes France Info.
“Morocco is now ranked the best African student and fourth in the world by the International Climate Action Network and the New Climate Institute in the 2021 Climate Performance Index. A model closely scrutinized by all of sub-Saharan Africa,” says the French public media.
The same appreciation was made by COP26 Regional Ambassador for the Middle East and Africa, Janet Rogan, during an event held under the theme “Energy Transition – Opportunities and Challenges in Africa” held at the COP26 Morocco Pavilion last week.
Morocco is a leader in Africa pushing for a breakthrough in new technologies in energy production, said the COP26 Regional Ambassador Janet Rogan, pointing out that the Kingdom cooperates with other African countries and shares its experience, “which means that we have opportunities and solutions within the continent itself.”
Janet Rogan said in a statement to MAP that Morocco has always worked to accelerate the implementation of the renewable energy agenda, adding that the sector now has interesting opportunities thanks to new technologies whose cost has dropped significantly to make them viable options for developing countries.
Africa faces many challenges with nearly 600 million people across the continent without access to energy, she lamented, adding that the continent, because of its vastness, also suffers from a transmission network that is not always up to speed.
It is therefore necessary, both for development and for socio-economic growth, that people in Africa can have access to energy and overcome structural problems, she stressed, noting that Morocco can play a key role in facilitating international cooperation and fulfilling energy goals.
