Casablanca – Morocco’s rising electricity consumption is widening the gap between national demand and domestic generation, increasing the country’s reliance on electricity imports from Spain and placing greater importance on cross-border energy infrastructure. The trend has become more visible in 2026, as imports from the neighbouring country have continued to grow while electricity exports from Morocco have declined.

Net electricity imports from Spain reached 494.55 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in October 2026, compared with 390.75 GWh in October 2025, an increase of 26.6%. During the first ten months of the year, net imports totalled 4,106 GWh, up 33.6% from 3,074 GWh over the same period a year earlier. These figures indicate that electricity exchanges with Spain are becoming an increasingly important means of covering Morocco’s domestic requirements, particularly when consumption rises faster than local production.

The increase in imports comes against a background of sustained growth in electricity demand. Morocco’s national electricity consumption reached approximately 49 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2025, representing an annual increase of around 7.4%. Demand continued to rise in 2026, with the country recording a new peak load of approximately 8,400 megawatts (MW) during the summer, compared with around 7,990 MW in 2025.

The growing pressure on the electricity system reflects several factors, including economic activity, expanding urban areas, household consumption and the needs of industrial and agricultural facilities. Higher temperatures during the summer months also increase demand for cooling and other electricity-dependent services. These pressures can become particularly difficult to manage when domestic generation does not increase at the same pace as consumption.

Available figures for the first half of 2026 already showed a significant difference between the evolution of supply and demand. Electricity consumption increased by 8.4%, while domestic production rose by only 1.6%. Imports grew by 34.6% through the end of June, while electricity exports declined by 41.5%. Data covering the first eight months of the year also indicated that production had increased by 2.8%, compared with an 8.9% rise in consumption. Net electricity requirements consequently grew by 5.3%, while imports increased by 27.9%.

This imbalance helps explain why Morocco has increasingly turned to the Spanish electricity market. The two countries are connected through two undersea cables operating at 400 kilovolts, which entered service in 1997 and 2006. The infrastructure provides an important channel for exchanging electricity across the Strait of Gibraltar and allows Morocco to obtain additional supplies when domestic generation is insufficient to meet demand.

The available commercial transmission capacity currently stands at approximately 900 MW from Spain to Morocco and 600 MW in the opposite direction. This difference reflects the importance of the Spanish connection as a source of electricity for the Moroccan market. However, the capacity remains limited when compared with the much larger exchange system between Spain and Portugal, where commercial capacity reaches approximately 4,200 MW towards Portugal and 3,500 MW towards Spain following the commissioning of an additional connection in July 2026.

The difference between the two systems illustrates the potential for Morocco to expand its electricity infrastructure with neighbouring countries. Morocco and Spain are developing plans for a third undersea connection intended to increase exchange capacity and improve the flexibility of both electricity networks. Estimates of the additional capacity vary, with figures of approximately 700 MW appearing in Moroccan planning information, while other technical estimates suggest that the connection could provide 650 MW towards Morocco and 600 MW in the opposite direction.

The project could offer Morocco greater access to electricity supplies during periods of high demand and provide additional options for managing fluctuations in domestic production. It could also facilitate exchanges when renewable generation exceeds local requirements, allowing electricity to move between the two markets according to available supply and consumption patterns.

A separate proposal for a direct electricity connection between Morocco and Portugal, with an anticipated capacity of approximately 1,000 MW, could further expand the country’s cross-border options. If implemented, the two projects would strengthen Morocco’s links with the wider European electricity system and potentially reduce its dependence on a single interconnection route.

Nevertheless, greater transmission capacity does not automatically guarantee additional electricity supplies. The availability of electricity in neighbouring markets depends on their own demand, generation capacity, weather conditions and network constraints. Spain, for example, has its own periods of high consumption and fluctuations in renewable generation. Technical restrictions on cross-border transmission can therefore affect the amount of electricity available to Morocco, even when commercial exchange capacity has been declared.

This issue has become more relevant as Morocco’s reliance on imported electricity has increased. Previous interruptions and restrictions affecting electricity supplies have raised questions about the resilience of the national system, particularly for industrial facilities that require stable and continuous power. Reports of electricity supply reductions in several parts of the country during late October and early November have added to concerns about the ability of the system to manage periods of pressure.

The effects of such disruptions can extend beyond electricity consumption itself. Industrial facilities may have to reduce production, adjust operating schedules or rely on alternative sources of supply when electricity becomes unavailable or restricted. For companies operating energy-intensive processes, even temporary interruptions can affect production planning and operating costs. However, the extent of the impact remains difficult to assess without comprehensive information on the facilities affected and the volume of electricity curtailed.

Morocco’s growing imports also reflect the wider challenge of balancing the expansion of renewable energy with the need for reliable electricity supplies. The country has increased investment in solar and wind power as part of its strategy to diversify energy sources and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels. Renewable electricity generation under the framework of Law 13-09 increased by 21.7% during the first eight months of 2026. Production from other national electricity producers also recorded a substantial increase, while generation from private producers grew more moderately and output from the national electricity and water utility remained broadly stable.

These developments demonstrate that renewable energy is contributing to the expansion of domestic electricity production. However, the variable nature of solar and wind generation creates additional requirements for the management of the electricity network. Solar output falls after sunset, while wind generation depends on changing weather conditions. Demand, meanwhile, does not necessarily follow the same pattern as renewable production.

This makes storage capacity, flexible generation and improved transmission infrastructure increasingly important. Electricity storage can help retain surplus renewable production for use during periods when generation declines, while stronger grid connections can facilitate the movement of electricity between regions and neighbouring markets. Demand management measures can also help reduce pressure during peak hours by encouraging large consumers to adjust their consumption when the network is under strain.

Morocco’s energy planning therefore faces two related priorities: expanding the country’s ability to produce electricity domestically and improving its capacity to exchange power with neighbouring systems. The development of new interconnections could contribute to both objectives by providing greater flexibility, but it cannot replace investment in national generation and storage.

The country’s electricity requirements are also expected to remain under pressure as infrastructure projects, industrial investment, transport development and urban expansion continue. The growth of electric mobility and the increasing use of electricity in economic activities could add further demand over the coming years. Meeting these requirements will require a combination of new generation capacity, network upgrades and more efficient consumption.

For Morocco, the strategic value of the Spanish connection lies in its ability to provide an additional source of supply and support the stability of the national grid. The increase in imports during 2026 demonstrates how important this infrastructure has become, but it also highlights the risks associated with depending too heavily on external electricity supplies during periods of strong demand.

The proposed third connection with Spain and the potential direct link with Portugal could provide additional capacity and diversify supply routes. Their effectiveness, however, will depend on the pace of construction, the availability of electricity in connected markets and the coordination of transmission systems.

The rise in Spanish electricity imports is both a response to Morocco’s immediate supply requirements and an indication of the structural challenges facing its energy system. Expanding cross-border infrastructure can improve flexibility and facilitate regional electricity exchanges, but maintaining reliable supplies will also depend on increasing domestic production, developing storage facilities and ensuring that the national grid can accommodate the country’s growing consumption.