Morocco’s thrust in the renewable energy sector could yield additional benefits of creating numerous green jobs.
A new report published by the Mediterranean Forum of Institute of Economic Sciences claims that Morocco could have up to half a million jobs in the renewable energy sector by 2040. Most of the renewable energy jobs are expected to originate from the Noor-Ouarzazate solar power complex which will host a number of projects based on different solar power technologies.
The Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (Masen) recently enhanced its target to set up 4 gigawatts renewable energy capacity by 2020 to 10 gigawatts by 2030. The Noor-Ouarzazate solar power complex will likely be the backbone of such large-scale expansion.
Saudi Arabia-based ACWA Power is aggressively working on several power projects that will form part of the solar power complex. The company has already commissioned a 160 megawatts concentrated solar power project based on parabolic trough reflectors – Noor I – and is working on Noor II (also based on parabolic trough reflectors) and Noor III (based on power tower technology).
Additionally, ACWA Power is also working on a 120 megawatts wind energy project. The company signed an agreement with Vestas for supply of 40 units of V90-3.0 turbine for Khalladi wind park being developed in Tangiers.
Morocco’s enormous investment in renewable energy is completely justified as the country is almost entirely dependent on imported fuel. Morocco spends 10-12% of its gross domestic product to import energy. The possibility that Morocco could have half a million renewable energy jobs by 2040 is remarkable as, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), globally around 8.1 million renewable energy jobs existed in 2015.