UNEP, IEA Invest in Upgrading Power Systems in Oulmes Bottling Plants

Rabat – The UN Environment Program (UNEP) and International Energy Agency (IAE) announced on Friday their support of a pilot project in Morocco to upgrade power grids in Les Eaux Minerales d’Oulmes plants.

The grant is part of the Demand-Driven Electricity Networks Initiative (3DEN) financed by the Italian Ministry of Ecological Transition (MITE).

It seeks to accelerate the modernization and efficiency of power systems in Morocco, Brazil, Colombia, and India through policy, regulation, technology, and investment guidance.

In Morocco, the 3DEN project is set to partner with Global Quality Consulting, Elexpert, SACMI Beverage, and the Moroccan Association of Beverages to support the transformation of energy systems in the plants owned by Les Eaux Minerales d’Oulmes.

The pilot project seeks to upgrade existing electricity measurement equipment in the bottling plants with energy monitoring systems to reduce total energy consumption by 36% by 2030.

“The project will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also change the way individuals and businesses interact with the grid,” UNEP noted in a statement.

By partnering with Oulmes, the 3DEN initiative aims to gain practical insights, test new approaches, and share acquired knowledge to scale up the implementation of “efficient, reliable, and sustainable energy systems, impacting the lives of people across continents.”

Given the current high monetary and environmental costs of energy production, the introduction of energy efficiency measures appears to be key to cutting energy bills and reducing greenhouse emissions while maintaining the same levels of production.

As Morocco aims to decarbonize its industries and increase its renewables capacity in upcoming years, the North African country remains heavily reliant on fossil fuel imports.

However, Morocco’s commitment to the fight against climate change makes energy efficiency more appealing given the urgent need to address the ongoing increase in emissions and the need to reach mitigation targets in a limited time.

“Energy efficiency has a central role in tackling climate change,” IEA said in an earlier report, adding that it “reduces GHG emissions, both direct emissions from fossil fuel combustion or consumption, and indirect emissions reductions from electricity generation.”