The national electrification rate in Morocco has exceeded 99.91%, and the rural electricity popularization work has been basically completed. The focus of electricity construction has been completely transformed. The local government has bid farewell to the stage of basic power construction and will fully shift its investment of billions of yuan in electricity to the expansion of the main power grid, the consumption of new energy, and the construction of energy storage facilities, injecting new impetus into the upgrading of the energy industry.

Differentiation of power grid construction

With the support of the African Development Bank's transmission network and rural electrification development plan, the total investment of the project is 352.33 million euros, including 243.85 million euros in non bank loans and 108.84 million euros in ONEE supporting facilities, with a loan disbursement rate of 52.61%. At present, the project construction is showing polarization, with 937 villages achieving electricity coverage, exceeding the established target of 720 villages. The progress of power grid construction is lagging behind, with 433 kilometers of 400 kV lines completed, a completion rate of 49.15%, and only 0.2 kilometers of 225 kV lines completed. There is still significant room for improvement in transmission infrastructure.

Sudden increase in electricity load

The local power grid load continues to rise, with the system peak increasing from the planned 7580 MW to 8400 MW. By 2025, Morocco's electricity consumption will reach 49 terawatt hours, a year-on-year increase of 7.4%. The country's installed capacity is 12314 megawatts, with renewable energy accounting for 46.1% of installed capacity, but only 27% of electricity generation. The gap between installed capacity and actual power generation highlights the shortcomings of insufficient line transmission and energy storage peak shaving capabilities, forcing the grid and energy storage to accelerate the upgrade. At present, the total length of the local high-voltage and ultra high voltage power grid exceeds 30700 kilometers, with a substation capacity of 22120 megavolt amperes. By 2030, it will be increased to 37000 kilometers and 35000 megavolt amperes respectively. Keywords: Moroccan power upgrade, grid energy storage construction, new energy investment

Billion dollar investment landing

Morocco's electricity investment from 2026 to 2030 will reach 206 billion dirhams, with plans to add 11.6 gigawatts of new energy installed capacity and 2.6 gigawatts of energy storage capacity, and increase renewable energy acceptance capacity by 1091 megawatts to 10429 megawatts. With the support of a 170 million euro financing from the European Investment Bank, the demand for the entire industry chain of power transmission and transformation, energy storage, and smart grids continues to be released. For Chinese enterprises, they need to rely on multilateral financing rules, comply with local compliance standards, focus on ultra-high voltage lines, energy storage equipment, power grid matching and other tracks, and accurately layout the Moroccan electricity blue ocean market.Editor/Min Jing