Morocco registers an all-time peak in energy consumption

Morocco has recorded a historic peak in electricity consumption, the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development has revealed in a press release. As of 11 August 2023, the Kingdom's energy consumption had reached 7,310 megawatts (MW), an increase of 0.8 % on the record recorded in 2022. 

According to the ministry, global warming is the main cause of this phenomenon. By impacting vital sectors such as the economy, tourism, agriculture and fishing, demand for electricity has risen considerably, particularly for cooling and refrigeration of infrastructures. 

Despite the surge in demand, Morocco's national electricity system has managed to meet it, thanks to an available capacity of 8,300 MW, to which renewable and low-carbon energy sources make a major contribution. For several years now, Rabat has been striving to develop its energy infrastructures so as to be able to anticipate constantly rising demand and achieve its objective of having, by 2030, an electricity mix in which at least 52 % of the capacity will be of renewable origin.

The ministry is calling for greater energy efficiency to guarantee the Kingdom of Morocco's energy security, while reducing the vulnerability of sectors sensitive to climate risks. On this subject, Minister Leila Ben Ali stated: “In addition to ensuring Morocco's energy security and strengthening the ability of the most vulnerable sectors to adapt to the risks of climate change, this call for energy efficiency will also help to reduce the national energy bill”. 

Climate projections paint a difficult picture for Mediterranean countries such as Morocco, southern Spain and Turkey. In recent months, the frequency of days with temperatures above 37°C has been recurrent and is set to increase significantly over the next few years. According to Morocco World News, the number of such days is set to double by 2050, putting further pressure on energy consumption patterns.  

Last week, Morocco recorded a new heat record of 50.4°C, a first in the country's meteorological history, which had never exceeded the 50°C mark. The Kingdom is currently experiencing its third heatwave of the summer, with the extreme heat highlighting the effects of climate change on the planet.