Morocco is the energy solution for Europe
Morocco appears to be one of Europe's first options to alleviate the consequences of the energy crisis that has been ravaging the continent for more than a year. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has brought with it an urgent need for new energy sources. The blockade of Russia has forced European countries to look for alternatives that could prevent the crisis from deepening. And it is in this context that Rabat appears at the top of the list of possible solutions, thanks to the advantages that the Alawi kingdom enjoys due to its climatic characteristics.
The Kingdom has been working for some time on a series of initiatives to promote green energy, a need that has been pressing due to the scarcity of fossil fuels in the country. However, the rapid development of renewable energy now presents a great opportunity for both Morocco and Europe to strengthen ties. The existence of submarine electricity cables between Spain and the Kingdom across the Strait of Gibraltar is a further incentive for this, together with the solar factor. Europe wants to make the most of this advantage that North Africa has over the Old Continent and take advantage of the large amount of light that it intends to convert into green energy.
Nasser Bourita, the Moroccan Foreign Minister, said at the end of last year that "the question of energy security, or the question of energy sovereignty, is more than ever an important consideration", after signing the green partnership. Through this, the EU committed itself to investing in green energy projects. This is largely because Europe, on its own, does not have "the potential to create the dimensions of renewable energy that we need", according to European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans, in a joint appearance with Bourita.
The partnership between Morocco and Europe has great advantages for both parties. In fact, they believe that the planned projects in North Africa could meet up to 15% of Europe's electricity demand. This is largely due to the vast desert areas where mega-projects can be developed much more easily than in Europe. One of the clearest examples is the solar project in the desert near the city of Ouarzazate. It is the largest concentrated solar power plant in the world and its mirrors extend for more than five miles.
It is estimated that this solar power plant is capable of generating 1,500 gigawatt hours per year, or just under a third of the output of the smallest nuclear power plant in the United States. One of the most important factors in this partnership is the lack of practical barriers that exist. Experts believe that the conditions for expanding European-Moroccan energy cooperation can hardly be improved. The possibility of expanding solar projects in the Kingdom on land whose economic value is not excessive, as well as the ease of transporting this energy to the continent via submarine cables, create a very favourable context for both parties.
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, North Africa has the potential to install infrastructure to generate 2,792 gigawatts of solar energy and 223 gigawatts of wind energy. Laura El-Katiri, a member of the European Council on Foreign Relations who specialises in renewable energy in North Africa, believes that the entire expanse could produce double to triple Europe's electricity production by 2021. Hence, in Europe, encouraging energy cooperation with Morocco is seen as one of the most feasible and profitable options for the future of both parties.