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Renewable energies: The Souss-Massa region in Morocco relies on the sun and the wind

Morocco is developing its renewable energies to reduce its imports of fossil fuels. The region of Souss-Massa, in the southwest of the country, sunny 300 days a year, is building ambitious new infrastructures to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030.

There are oil and gas in the Moroccan subsoil. For now, they are staying there. Since 2009, the Kingdom has been focusing on the development of renewable energies to reduce its imports of fossils, and it is sticking to it. โ€œBy 2030, the country should produce 2,000 MW of solar electricity, 200 MW of wind power, 2,000 W of hydraulic power. Enough to cover the country’s energy needs up to 52%, โ€ calculates economist Mohammed Cherki, a specialist in renewable energies.

With exceptional sunshine, nearly 300 days a year, one of the strongest in the Kingdom, “all the assets were there”, according to the economist, especially as Souss-Massa also has the wind on the coast, around Agadir, and mountains, inland, where to make dams.

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A region cited as an example

Projects are multiplying to achieve the objectives of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030, programmed by the Regional Council. In Midelt, a hybrid power plant – combining photovoltaic and solar thermal compression – even more ambitious than that of Ouarzazate, will emerge from the ground.

Cited as an example in the 2020 report of the Climate Chance Association, the region also relies on the new pumping energy transfer station of the Abdelmoumen dam.

“The region wishes to produce energy for public lighting, with photovoltaic LED streetlights, an experience which, if it is successful, will be extended to the whole country”, notes Mohammed Cherki.

This proliferation of renewable infrastructure has allowed the creation of โ€œ50,000 direct and indirect jobs in the region. Solar has promoted local engineering. The trained technicians are picked up and no longer leave. The fabric of SMEs is boosted. “

A coherent strategy

Climate Chance experts also salute Souss-Massa’s consistent efforts. In October 2018, it signed the first Territorial Plan to fight against global warming, which makes Morocco’s sustainable development strategy concrete.

There are oil and gas in the Moroccan subsoil. For now, they are staying there. Since 2009, the Kingdom has been focusing on the development of renewable energies to reduce its imports of fossils, and it is sticking to it. โ€œBy 2030, the country should produce 2,000 MW of solar electricity, 200 MW of wind power, 2,000 W of hydraulic power. Enough to cover the country’s energy needs up to 52%, โ€ calculates economist Mohammed Cherki, a specialist in renewable energies.

300 sunny days per year

After Ouarzazate and the first large solar power plant called Noor (light, in Arabic), at a cost of 20 billion dollars with its extensions 2 and 3, it is the region of Souss-Massa which “took the solar train. in motion, in 2014 โ€.

With exceptional sunshine, nearly 300 days a year, one of the strongest in the Kingdom, “all the assets were there”, especially as Souss-Massa also has the wind on the coast, around Agadir, and mountains, inland, where to make dams.

A region cited as an example

Projects are multiplying to achieve the objectives of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030, programmed by the Regional Council. In Midelt, a hybrid power plant – combining photovoltaic and solar thermal compression – even more ambitious than that of Ouarzazate, will emerge from the ground.

Cited as an example in the 2020 report of the Climate Chance association , the region also relies on the new pumping energy transfer station of the Abdelmoumen dam.

“The region wishes to produce energy for public lighting, with photovoltaic LED streetlights, an experience which, if it is successful, will be extended to the whole country”, notes Mohammed Cherki.

This proliferation of renewable infrastructure has allowed the creation of โ€œ50,000 direct and indirect jobs in the region. Solar has promoted local engineering. The trained technicians are picked up and no longer leave. The fabric of SMEs is boosted. “

A coherent strategy

Climate Chance experts also salute Souss-Massa’s consistent efforts. In October 2018, it signed the first Territorial Plan to fight against global warming, which makes Morocco’s sustainable development strategy concrete.

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This plan measured the region’s vulnerability to climate change. The drop in the water table is the main source of concern, while agriculture will have to feed a population of 2.6 million inhabitants, which is growing strongly.

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