In 2024, Morocco's electricity consumption is largely dominated by fossil fuels, which account for nearly 69% of the total electricity, with coal being the most significant contributor at about 55%. On the cleaner side of the energy mix, more than a quarter of the electricity is generated from low-carbon sources, with wind energy making the largest contribution by providing over 21% of the electricity. Solar and hydropower have smaller shares, with solar contributing around 4% and hydropower barely crossing into 1%. The remaining portion of the electricity consumed is met through net imports. These figures highlight Morocco's reliance on fossil fuels, but also indicate a meaningful component of low-carbon sources, which is promising for future efforts in reducing emissions and enhancing sustainable growth.
Is Electricity Growing in Morocco?
Electricity consumption in Morocco shows an encouraging upward trend, with a noticeable increase in per person usage compared to the previous year. In 2024, the average electricity consumption reached 1219 kWh per person, an increase from the previous record of 1175 kWh per person in 2023. This reflects a growth of 44 kWh per person. Notably, low-carbon electricity generation per person experienced an even more significant rise, increasing from 244 kWh in 2023 to 316 kWh in 2024, marking an addition of 72 kWh per person. This growth trend in overall electricity consumption, and especially in low-carbon electricity, is a positive development necessary for supporting the country's economic progress and facilitating the transition to a cleaner energy future.
Suggestions
To further augment low-carbon electricity generation in Morocco, it would be strategic to expand existing wind energy infrastructure given its substantial current contribution. Learning from successful international examples, Morocco could consider investing in solar energy development, taking inspiration from Lebanon's and Nevada's utilization of solar power, which contributes 31% and 29% of their electricity respectively. Additionally, the adoption of nuclear power can also be a viable option, as observed in countries like France and Slovakia, where nuclear energy forms more than half of their electricity mix. Integrating a mix of solar and nuclear capabilities would diversify Morocco's green energy portfolio and contribute significantly to meeting the country's future energy demand while reducing emissions.
History
Historically, low-carbon electricity in Morocco has seen a sequence of positive developments with incremental installations, primarily in wind and solar energy. Since the late 1990s, hydroelectric power experienced minor fluctuations but maintained relevance. In the recent decade, from around 2013 onwards, there has been a noticeable boost in wind energy, with significant projects continuing to add capacity almost every year, and a substantial addition of 3.3 TWh in 2024 alone. Solar power has also steadily gained traction, with incremental increases most notably since 2018, with a significant rise in 2023. This historical context underscores Morocco's commitment to expanding low-carbon energy sources, marking important advancements on their path toward a cleaner electricity generation landscape.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.