• Morocco plans to integrate 12.5 GW of new renewables into its grid by 2030.
• The $24 billion plan includes €341 million in support from EU, EIB, and KfW.
• A 1,400 km HVDC line is planned to boost capacity and power supply security.

Last week, the World Bank approved a procurement plan to kick-start a pilot battery storage project in Morocco, a crucial initiative for scaling up these systems. The North African nation is ramping up efforts to modernize its power grid to incorporate 12.5 GW of new renewable capacities by 2030. This inclination is evident from the involvement of the National Office for Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) in this strategy.

The state company, having unveiled a $24 billion investment plan in April, now enjoys a funding of nearly €341 million, sourced from the European Investment Bank, Germany’s KfW, and the European Union. This fund will notably be used to extend the power distribution network by over 730 kilometers. Apart from the grid modernization, these monies aim to "improve the security of supply," vital for "stimulating growth in many regions of the country.”

Currently, renewable production capacity in Morocco stands at about 4.6 GW. The goal of reaching 17 GW by the end of the decade entails an efficient grid that can manage intermittent power generation, often located away from urban areas, without compromising system stability or escalating costs.

This transformation of the grid underpins project profitability, ensures the power supply for industries, and enhances Morocco's attractiveness for investments in high energy-consuming sectors.

Last week, three non-binding memoranda of understanding were also signed among the government, ONEE, and a consortium consisting of the Mohammed VI Fund for Investment, TAQA Morocco, a subsidiary of the UAE group TAQA, and local firm Nareva. These agreements envisage the construction of a 1,400 km HVDC line with a 3,000 MW capacity running from the country’s south to its center by 2030.