Morocco has officially announced the launch of its first-ever offshore wind energy project, with a production capacity of 1000 megawatts, set to be implemented near the coast of the city of Essaouira. The announcement was made during the “Mediterranean Day” event at the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) held in Nice, France.
This project is one of the initial investments funded by the “Mediterranean Blue Partnership,” a multi-donor fund aimed at supporting a sustainable blue economy in the southern Mediterranean and Red Sea region. Construction work on the project is expected to begin by 2029, making it Morocco’s first offshore wind energy initiative.
Moroccan Minister of Energy Transition, Leila Benali, stated that the project “is part of a dynamic that includes achieving energy independence, enhancing industrial attractiveness, and strengthening economic competitiveness.” The project aligns with the national strategy aiming to secure more than 52% of Morocco’s electricity mix from renewable sources by 2030.
The Essaouira coast was specifically chosen due to its strong and consistent offshore winds, with an average speed of approximately 11 meters per second, making the area technically suitable for such projects and ensuring good electricity production efficiency.
Feasibility studies and technical support for this project are being financed by the Mediterranean Blue Partnership, which currently has a budget of around 22 million euros, following Spain’s recent contribution of 8.5 million euros to the list of donors that includes Sweden, Germany, France, and the European Union.
This announcement comes amid the rapid global expansion of the offshore wind energy sector, with Rystad Energy forecasting that global offshore wind production capacity will increase by approximately 19 gigawatts in 2025.
The Essaouira project represents a pivotal step in Morocco’s transition toward renewable energy, following its primary focus in recent years on solar energy and onshore wind projects. This initiative strengthens Morocco’s position as a key regional player in clean energy and may encourage other Mediterranean countries to launch similar projects in the future.
