Small-scale PV solutions for micro, small and medium enterprises, self-producers and public sector can effectively contribute to Moroccan energy transformation; however, policy and regulatory advancements are needed to unlock investments. This is the core takeaway of RES4Africa's new study Small-scale PV Capacity: Is Morocco Ready?, developed in collaboration with AFRY and Cluster Solaire. The report was presented today (March 3) during an online event that saw the participation of the Italian Ambassador in Rabat, Armando Barucco, AFRY, Cluster Solaire, PwC Morocco, IRESEN, SIE and Enel-X.
Morocco's economic development and rapid population increase determined a steady growth in power demand between 2000 and 2020, and the trend is expected to continue in the future. Hence, the country will need to invest in adequate power supply in order to meet the growing energy demand in a sustainable way. As a matter of fact, Morocco is a pioneer of renewable energy action in Africa: by the end of 2021, the country achieved an installed REs power capacity of about 37%, meant to reach 52% by 2030, of which 20% is expected to come from solar energy.
Small-PV plants are considered one of the most effective ways to expand the Moroccan electricity market and increase the share of renewables through sustainable, decentralised solutions: nevertheless, the weak policy environment and the lack of regulation for low-voltage connection is reducing attractiveness of the investments, and slowing-down the uptake of the PV self-consumption scheme. The overall Morocco's transition towards renewable energy is therefore being hampered.
According to the results of RES4Africa's study, targeted actions should be designed and implemented, in order to enhance Morocco's policy and regulatory framework, making it able to unleash the full potential of small-scale PV deployment, while making self-consumption more attractive for MSMEs and local administrations. Enabling connection of REs plants to the low voltage grid should be the first intervention, accompanied by the introduction of net-metering schemes, and supported by the introduction of clear project-governance. Further interventions outlined by the analysis are the establishment of transparent rules and tariffs, introducing direct incentives or refunding investment costs, and inaugurating import tax exemptions to help to limit the upfront cost, increasing the small-scale PV attractiveness. Finally, it is desirable to increase social awareness, by disseminating knowledge through public projects, and actively involving the population in their operative phases.
RES4Africa Foundation (Renewable Energy Solutions for Africa) is a Foundation that operates in support of Africa's just energy transition. Its mission is to work towards creating favourable conditions for scaling up investments in clean energy technologies in the continent. Functioning as a bridge between Europe and Africa, RES4Africa envisions the sustainable transformation of the continent's electricity systems to provide reliable and affordable electricity access, enabling job creation and socio-economic progress of all African businesses and societies.
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