Rabat – Morocco’s National Railways Office (ONCF) has announced that its Al Boraq lines of high speed trains will start using renewable energy, as part of the ONCF’s plan to transition to cleaner energy sources.
The office said it is working on gradually adopting green energy, and will start by using renewables for 25% of its energy needs, before escalating to 50% in 2023. The goal is to eventually cover all the ONCF’s operations with renewable energy, according to a press release.
In an effort to promote environmental consciousness among its consumers, the ONCF also aims to introduce offers to make the Al Boraq line more attractive to travelers.
Read Also: Morocco’s High-Speed Train on Track for 3 Million Passengers in 2019
The move is part of the “national energy strategy of the kingdom,” according to the office’s press release.
Morocco’s energy strategy aims to raise the proportion of clean energy in the kingdom to 52% by 2030, which would put the North African country at the forefront of renewable energy usage worldwide.
In line with that broader national agenda, the ONCF has been executing a plan to reduce its carbon footprint, getting ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 certificates for environmental and energy management in the process.
The office also plans to release yearly reports detailing its carbon footprint, and to install solar panels at office buildings or train stations.
Thanks in part to partnerships with leading clean energy producers, the ONCF also projects to avoid about 120,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year, which equates to planting 4 million trees.
Al Boraq trains are projected to use wind energy for 100% of their energy needs starting in 2022.
“Traveling by train is one of the best ways to limit greenhouse gas emissions, as it produces on average 25 to 30 percent as much as other transportation methods,” the ONCF said.
The change will make trains an even more efficient and environmentally friendly method of travelling.
