Morocco Launches First Offshore Wind Energy Project in Africa Near Essaouira
Morocco has officially launched its first offshore wind energy station, which is also the first of its kind in Africa. This strategic initiative aims to increase the contribution of renewable energy to 52% of the national electricity mix by 2030. The new station, expected to be located near Essaouira, will have a production capacity of 1,000 megawatts, reinforcing Morocco’s position as an emerging power in clean energy.
The project was officially unveiled on June 10, 2025, in Nice, France during the Mediterranean Day events, held alongside the Third United Nations Ocean Conference. It is one of the initial investments funded by the Blue Mediterranean Partnership, a multi-donor fund aimed at promoting sustainable blue economy in regions around the southern Mediterranean and the Red Sea.
Construction is anticipated to begin in 2029, as part of a government commitment to enhance energy independence, improve industrial attractiveness, and boost the competitiveness of the national economy. Leila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, confirmed that the project aligns with Morocco’s energy vision, emphasizing the importance of offshore wind as a sustainable solution for generating clean electricity.
Essaouira was chosen as the project site due to its unique wind capacity, with an average wind speed of 11 meters per second, which enhances the project’s technical performance and economic feasibility. This new direction comes amid significant growth in wind energy in Morocco, where cumulative capacity increased from 1.898 gigawatts in 2023 to 2.368 gigawatts in 2024, achieving a record addition of 520 megawatts within a single year, representing a growth of 372% compared to the previous year.
The contribution of wind energy to Morocco’s electricity mix reached 21.23% in 2025, up from just 15.4% in 2023, confirming the evolving role of this energy source in the national electricity landscape. The Essaouira project is expected to mark a qualitative shift in the energy strategy, moving from land-based wind and solar energy to offshore wind, solidifying Morocco’s regional leadership in this field.
Data from the Global Wind Energy Council indicates that Morocco has the potential for up to 200 gigawatts of offshore wind energy, a significant figure that could reshape the country’s energy structure and reduce dependence on imports. Additionally, Rystad Energy reported that global offshore wind capacity could rise by approximately 19 gigawatts by 2025, further enhancing Morocco’s status as a model for sustainable energy transition in the Mediterranean region.
