Casablanca – The transition toward renewable energy is increasingly emerging as a strategic necessity across the Middle East and North Africa, a region facing mounting pressures from climate change, rising energy demand, and structural economic vulnerabilities. Recent analyses by international research institutions highlight that, despite historical delays in infrastructure development, the region is entering a decisive phase marked by accelerating investments in renewable energy. Within this evolving landscape, Morocco stands out as a country that has placed renewable energy at the core of a broader development model linking energy security, water management, and agricultural resilience.
According to recent assessments, renewable energy capacity in the Middle East and North Africa could expand to nearly four times its current level by 2030, driven by strong investment momentum. This shift reflects growing recognition that traditional energy systems, heavily reliant on fossil fuels, are increasingly exposed to climate-related risks, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical uncertainty. However, the pace and effectiveness of this transition vary widely across the region, largely depending on political stability, institutional capacity, and access to financing.
Several countries continue to face structural obstacles that limit their ability to diversify energy sources. Armed conflicts, political instability, and governance challenges have constrained long-term planning and discouraged foreign investment in renewable projects. In such contexts, rising temperatures have intensified electricity demand, particularly during summer months, placing severe strain on aging power grids and increasing the risk of widespread outages. These challenges underscore the importance of institutional stability and coherent policy frameworks in enabling energy transitions.
Against this backdrop, Morocco’s approach reflects a different trajectory. As a country without significant hydrocarbon resources and a net importer of energy, Morocco has long viewed energy security as a strategic priority. This perspective is embedded in the “Green Generation 2020–2030” strategy, which addresses the interdependence between food, water, and energy systems. Agriculture remains a central pillar of the Moroccan economy, employing a substantial share of the workforce and playing a critical role in social stability, particularly in rural areas. Climate change, however, has intensified water scarcity and increased pressure on agricultural productivity.
Renewable energy is therefore not treated solely as an environmental objective, but as an adaptive tool designed to reinforce economic resilience. Morocco’s renewable energy development program, targeting close to 24 gigawatts of installed capacity, is closely aligned with long-term water planning. This integrated approach aims to secure water supplies through desalination plants powered by renewable energy, reducing dependence on fossil fuels while supporting food production. By linking energy expansion to water infrastructure, Morocco seeks to mitigate climate risks while strengthening its food system.
Institutional actors play a key role in this strategy. The national electricity and water utility has pursued initiatives to integrate renewable energy into industrial value chains, particularly in fertilizer production, through the development of green hydrogen. At the same time, investments in pumped hydroelectric storage are designed to enhance grid flexibility and improve the reliability of renewable power generation. These measures are intended to reduce exposure to external shocks and global supply chain volatility.
At the regional level, international observers note that renewable energy expansion is increasingly shaped by economic and geopolitical considerations rather than purely environmental ones. The Middle East and North Africa remain a central supplier of global oil and gas, and energy continues to underpin geopolitical influence and economic leverage. As a result, many countries have adopted a dual-track approach, investing in renewables while maintaining a strong reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation. Oil and natural gas still account for the vast majority of power production across the region.
Another emerging challenge relates to the availability of critical minerals required for renewable energy infrastructure, including copper and lithium. Rapid expansion of power grids, battery storage, and clean energy technologies has intensified competition for these resources, placing additional pressure on global supply chains. Countries with limited financial or political capacity may struggle to secure access to these materials, potentially widening disparities in the pace of energy transition across the region.
Despite these constraints, Morocco’s experience illustrates how strategic planning and policy coordination can position renewable energy as a driver of long-term sovereignty rather than a standalone sectoral reform. By embedding energy policy within broader agricultural, water, and industrial strategies, the country aims to build a more resilient economic model capable of adapting to climate stress and global market fluctuations.
Analysts caution, however, that the success of such strategies depends on sustained investment, institutional continuity, and careful management of natural resources. Continued reliance on fossil fuels across the region risks exacerbating water scarcity and food insecurity, which in turn could increase energy demand and strain public finances. In this context, renewable energy is increasingly viewed not as an optional transition, but as a structural requirement for economic stability and social resilience.
As regional competition for energy diversification intensifies, Morocco’s integrated approach offers insights into how renewable energy can serve as a foundation for broader development goals. The coming years will test whether similar models can be adapted elsewhere in the region, particularly in countries facing deeper political and economic constraints.
