Morocco to build Africa’s first offshore wind farm

Moroccan authorities have officially announced that the country will build its first offshore wind farm project, a first ever for Africa as well, off the coast of Essaouira.

The 1,000MW capacity wind farm will be among the first investments funded by the Mediterranean Blue Partnership (MBP), a multi-donor fund supporting a sustainable blue economy in the southern Mediterranean and Red Sea.

The project is set to begin construction by 2029. This aligns with the country’s national strategy to secure more than 52% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. So far, the country’s renewable projects revolved around solar energy and onshore wind development.

The World Bank claimed recently that Morocco has large potential for offshore wind energy. It also stated that, apart from generating clean electricity, the country could also use it to produce green hydrogen.

Morocco has a high potential to exploit offshore wind, particularly along its Atlantic coast, with high wind speeds are shallow waters. The Essaouira coast was chosen because of these factors and its strong and consistent marine winds, with average speeds reaching 11 meters per second.

“This project is part of a dynamic that combines energy independence, industrial attractiveness and economic competitiveness,” said Leila Benali, Morocco’s Minister of Energy Transition.