By: Electricity hub

Morocco is engaged in advanced discussions with three major Emirati energy firms—Masdar, AMEA Power, and TAQA—over a potential investment of up to $10 billion in large-scale wind energy projects in the Sahara Desert, according to a recent report by the Attaqa platform.

The proposed projects are expected to deliver a combined generation capacity of up to 5,000 megawatts (MW), reinforcing Morocco’s strategic push to derive 52 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

Wind energy is central to this goal, particularly in areas with strong and consistent wind speeds such as Tangier and the Atlantic coastline, where wind speeds range from 7.5 to 11 meters per second.

The Sahara’s average wind speed of 8.4 m/s and its low population density make it an ideal location for massive wind farm installations, minimising social and environmental conflicts often associated with land use, the report noted.

The initiative also aims to support local economic development, job creation, and industrial integration through increased demand for domestically produced components and services in the renewable energy supply chain.

The report emphasises growing Emirati interest in Morocco’s clean energy sector. In 2024 alone, the North African kingdom added 470 MW of wind capacity, bringing the total to 2.368 GW, up from 1.898 GW in 2023. Consequently, wind power’s share in Morocco’s energy mix jumped to 21.23 per cent, from 15.4 per cent the previous year.

Morocco’s Ministry of Energy has a multi-year plan to install 2.6 GW of new wind capacity between 2023 and 2027, backed by investments exceeding MAD 36 billion (approximately $3.6 billion).

These efforts are part of the kingdom’s broader strategy to reduce dependency on imported fossil fuels and bolster energy sovereignty.

Since 2015, Morocco’s southern provinces have attracted significant clean energy investments, particularly in wind and solar, transforming the region into a renewable energy hub.

In May 2025, a major breakthrough occurred when a Moroccan-Emirati alliance signed renewable energy and desalination deals valued at nearly $14 billion with the Moroccan government. Among the landmark projects is a 1,400-kilometre transmission line designed to transport 1,200 MW of wind-generated electricity from the Sahara to Casablanca, Morocco’s economic capital.

In June, Morocco’s YNNA Group partnered with AMEA Power to develop a 100 MW wind farm in Laayoune, one of the largest cities in the Sahara region. Construction is scheduled to begin by late 2025, with commissioning expected by 2027. Once operational, the wind farm is projected to cut over 330,000 tons of CO₂ emissions annually.

This wave of investments further positions Morocco as a continental leader in renewable energy and underscores its growing importance as a strategic destination for Gulf energy capital looking to expand globally.