Rabat – Morocco leads the African continent in terms of clean energy power plants, along with Egypt and South Africa, according to TAQA Net, a platform specialized in energy markets.
Africa’s fast growth of social and economic developments led several countries to further develop solar energy projects, especially at a time when the continent continues to make a leap forward in photovoltaic power generation capacities.
TAQA Net’s latest report highlighted that experts expect the contribution of renewable energy to increase the amount of electricity produced on the continent over the next few years.
Africa has some of the largest clean energy plants in the world due to its potential in terms of renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and hydropower.
The energy platform noted that African countries are moving towards increased competition in the construction of the largest clean power plants to ensure access to electricity in deprived areas.
According to a 2019 report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), there are more than 770 million Africans who still lack access to reliable electricity.
Morocco paves the way in renewable energy on the African continent. Statistics from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) shows that more than 80% of all new electrical capacity set in place in 2020 operates solely on renewable energy sources.
The continent also seeks to support the energy transformation to cope with emerging challenges of climate change, while diversifying sources of electricity production to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, one of the main causes of pollution worldwide.
The platform also highlighted Morocco’s Ouarzazate Noor solar plant, a mega project that seeks to reinforce the country’s National Sustainable Development Strategy (SNDD).
Morocco adopted the SNDD in 2017 to ensure its transition to a green and inclusive economy by 2030.
The country launched the Noor solar program in 2009, with the objective of securing a minimum of 2,000 megawatts from solar facilities by 2020.
The Ouarzazate complex currently has a capacity of 580 megawatts spread over four plants.
With major solar projects in different cities, the North African country aims to produce more than 52% of its electricity from renewable resources by 2030.
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