The International Energy Agency (IEA) has raised its forecast for renewable capacity growth in Morocco, citing the spread of corporate power purchase agreements (PPAs) and faster-than-expected progress in the renewables programme of the OCP Group. The upgrade appears in the agency’s report “Renewables 2026 – Analysis and Forecasts to 2031”, published last week.
The IEA projects that Morocco could add nearly 5 gigawatts (GW) of renewable capacity between 2026 and 2031, against about 1.5 GW over 2020-2025. It says OCP is advancing a plan to develop more than 2 GW, supporting its goal of carbon neutrality by 2040. Most new projects are tied to industrial demand, including decarbonisation of OCP’s mining and fertiliser activities, renewable ammonia, water desalination and cement.
The agency says disruptions in global energy markets are strengthening the wish of countries, Morocco included, to reduce reliance on fossil-fuel imports and exposure to price volatility. Grid, interconnection and storage investment is essential; Morocco is among countries planning battery storage and is cited for pumped-storage projects.
Regionally, the IEA expects 122 GW of renewable additions across the Middle East and North Africa between 2026 and 2031, taking installed capacity close to 200 GW. Large-scale solar photovoltaics should make up nearly 80% of new regional capacity and 75% of installed renewable capacity by 2031, the highest share worldwide.
Globally, the IEA forecasts nearly 4,800 GW of new renewable capacity over 2026-2031, 57% more than in the previous six years, with solar PV accounting for over three-quarters. China’s share is set to fall from more than 60% in 2025 to an average of 53%. Renewables should supply nearly 45% of global electricity in 2031, up from 33% in 2025.
