Morocco Sets 2040 Coal Exit Plan, Triples Renewable Energy Goals

Marrakech – Morocco has committed to phasing out coal power by 2040, conditional on receiving adequate international support, according to its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

The North African country also pledged to eliminate coal power unconditionally by the 2040s, marking its first official timeline for coal phase-out since joining the Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA) in 2023.

In an October 23 press release by PPCA, the organization stated that Morocco plans to triple its renewable energy capacity to over 15 GW by 2030. The country will also focus on improving electrical grids and expanding energy storage facilities as part of its transition to cleaner energy sources.

Coal currently dominates Morocco’s electricity generation, accounting for 59.3% of the mix in 2024. This represents a significant decrease from 70% in 2022, according to official figures. Meanwhile, wind and solar power have grown substantially, providing nearly 25% of the country’s electricity in 2024, up from just 9% in 2015.

“The gradual phase out of coal power, combined with the rapid scale-up of renewable energy, will reinforce our energy security and drive clean economic and social growth,” said Leila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development.

Benali confirmed that Morocco has already stopped planning for new coal power plants. “By employing the right technical and financial levers, as presented at COP28, we are convinced that Morocco can achieve this objective and build a value-creating economy that benefits everyone,” she explained.

Morocco targets 52% renewables by 2030

Morocco’s commitment to renewable energy began with its 2009 National Energy Strategy, which aimed to expand renewables to 52% of the energy mix by 2030. The country later raised its ambitions in its 2021 NDC, targeting 70% renewable power by 2050, and committed to no new coal at COP26 that same year.

To support these goals, the government has implemented various policy measures. These include tenders and auctions for large solar and wind projects and the creation of the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Development (MASEN), a one-stop agency designed to boost investor confidence. The country has also established a Public-Private Partnership financing scheme.

Julia Skorupska, Head of Secretariat at PPCA, noted Morocco’s transition “from a heavy dependence on costly fossil fuel imports to a future powered by home-produced renewable energy.” Setting a coal phase-out date “paves the way for cleaner air, good quality jobs, and cheaper energy,” she said.

Rachid Ennassiri, Co-Founder and Director of the Imal Initiative for Climate and Development, described the conditional 2040 coal phase-out as “a decisive evolution in Morocco’s climate policy.”

He explained that it transforms “what was once an implicit direction into a clear strategic target” and signals intent to manage early plant retirements, contractual reforms, and ensure a just transition supported by international climate finance.

Morocco’s announcement comes amid global progress in transitioning from coal to clean energy. Earlier this month, renewables generated more electricity worldwide than coal for the first time in history. Solar and wind growth exceeded global demand growth in the first half of 2025, while additions to the global coal fleet fell to their lowest level in over 20 years in 2024.

The PPCA supports coal phase-outs globally and hosts the Coal Transition Commission, co-chaired by Indonesia and France. At the upcoming COP30, the PPCA will launch a Plan to Accelerate Coal Transitions, identifying concrete actions to speed up the coal-to-clean transition before the next Global Stocktake in 2028.