Wind power in Morocco

In terms of wind power development, Morocco enjoys quite favourable wind resource patterns, both in the northern part of the country near Tangier and to the west where certain regions benefit from regular trade winds.

In 2022, 13.48% of electricity produced in Morocco was coming from wind power.^[2]

Wind power could be a major contributor in the electricity sector of Morocco. According to data presented by minister Amara in Madrid in 2015, the country's onshore potential is estimated at 25 GW, of which 6 GW could be installed by 2030. The average wind speed is 5.3 metres per second (m/s) in more than 90% of the country's territory, according to the wind atlas, developed by the Moroccan Renewable Energy Development Center (CDER). The Tangier and Tetouan region (North of Morocco) rates particularly highly at 8 to 11 m/s, and 7 to 8.5 m/s were recorded for Dakhla, Tarfaya, Taza and Essaouira.

The installed capacity 2014 was 750 MW. According to data from Morocco's energy ministry, a total of 220 MW of private wind energy projects had been built by the end of 2016. Another 120 MW were to go online soon at the Khalladi wind farm in the vicinity of Tangier, northern Morocco. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Banque Marocaine du Commerce Exterieur (BMCE) had announced providing a financing package of EUR 126 million (US$133.3m) for the development of the project.

The objective was to generate 2,000 MW by 2020.^[3] Morocco's installed wind capacity reached 1,788 MW in 2022, ranking second in Africa behind South Africa (3,442 MW) and ahead of Egypt (1,702 MW). The commissionings of 2022 amounted to 276 MW and those of 2021 to 197 MW.^[4]