The Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN), supported by the European Investment Bank, is moving forward with plans for what would be the first offshore wind project not only in Morocco, but anywhere around the African continent.
The European Investment Bank has earmarked an initial 2m to support a pilot offshore wind project with a feasibility study and environmental and social impact assessment. A tender process to find a consultant to produce the studies was cancelled in July. However, an EIB spokesperson confirmed to African Business that it plans to relaunch the tender in October. Consultants are set to start work on the studies expected to take two months in early 2025.
The pilot project is to be sited off the coast of Essaouira and will have a planned initial capacity of 30-40 MW. The timetable for beginning construction remains unclear.
Morocco is among the most promising locations for offshore wind in Africa. Research published by the World Bank in 2020 found that the country has the potential to generate as much as 200 GW from offshore wind, including 22 GW from standard fixed-bottom turbines and the remainder from floating turbines (a technology that is only just beginning to be deployed at scale). Western Sahara, which Morocco claims as part of its territory, was found to have a potential capacity of 340 GW.
The planned offshore wind development will form part of MASENs efforts to add 6 GW in renewable generation capacity by 2030, enabling Morocco to meet 52% of its energy needs with renewables by that date.
