Like many industries around the world, Morocco’s renewable energy sector has suffered from the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 20, Morocco declared a state of emergency, making traveling and importing difficult. The move resulted in a significant decline in activities from installers of solar equipment, such as roof panels, pumps, and heaters. Tech fairs were also canceled, which are crucial for networking between investors and start-ups.
However, the industry didn’t let this crisis get in its way, nor did it lose its momentum. Instead, the sector’s employees were quick to take advantage of the lockdown period for the industry’s benefit by improving their skills and products. “The motivation of the cleantech workers is as high as ever,” said Fatima Zahra El Khalifa, the CEO of Cluster Solaire (Solar Cluster).
Solar Cluster is a Moroccan-based non-profit organization, which aims to strengthen renewable energy and eco-friendly technology by offering funds for start-ups and project leaders. The non-profit has provided distance training to help entrepreneurs develop their skills during the lockdown.
Solar Cluster has also donated $20K to Morocco’s ‘Special Fund for the Management and Response to COVID-19’, along with their employees who donated one month’s salary. The funds are designed to alleviate the social and economic impact of the pandemic in Morocco.
El Khalifa expressed:
The pandemic showed the importance of energy independence for our country as well as the relevance of persevering on the path of promoting green energies, with all its proven advantages.
At the same time, the ministry is working on combining the national electricity transmission and distribution network to maximize integration, predictive management, and modernization of renewable energy production.
Morocco aims to become an exporter of hydrogen and to generate 52% of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2030. The country is already leading in renewable energy, with triumphs such as the Noor Ouarzazate Solar Power Station, which is the largest concentrated solar power plant in the world. The Noor plants are located in a region with one of the world’s highest amounts of sunlight– 2635 kWh/m2/year. Morocco also has Africa’s largest onshore wind farm, known as Tarfaya Wind Farm, which produces enough power for 1.5 million homes.
