Renewable energy in emergent countries: lessons from energy transition in Morocco

Abstract

Morocco, which has no conventional energy resources, depends entirely on the international primary energy market to satisfy its growing demand due to its economic growth and demographic progression. The country imports the majority of its energy source supply. Morocco has implemented an important energy strategy that supports the country’s transition to renewable energy and energy efficiency that generalizes across all consumer sectors of the economy (housing, transport, industry). To fulfill this energy transition, the liberalization of renewable energy market was adopted and financial mechanisms have been created to stimulate private sector involvement and to facilitate the implementation of the public–private partnership. The government and public institutions that were created to accompany Morocco’s energy vision have committed to drive the development of projects in the priority areas of renewable energy and energy efficiency, but the country still needs to deal with many barriers related to the policy, financial, and technical frameworks.