According to newly published research, Morocco is ranked 5th in the world for clean innovation. The index is produced by MIT and published in “The Green Future Index” sponsored by Salesforce, Citrix, and Morgan Stanley.
The research was conducted through in-depth secondary research and analysis as well as interviews with global experts on climate change, green energy, and technologies that will drive decarbonisation.
It measures the degree to which 76 countries and territories are moving towards a green future by reducing their carbon emissions, developing clean energy, innovating in green sectors, and preserving their environment, as well as the degree to which governments are implementing effective climate policies.
The Clean Innovation Index reflects each country’s relative number of green patents, cross-border investment in clean energy, and private investment in foodtech.
Over a decade ago, the King of Morocco began a national debate about the future of energy, resulting in a fundamental policy redesign and a goal that renewables would produce 42% of the country’s power by 2020—a target that has now been raised to 52% by 2030.
In addition to developing strong wind and solar sectors, says
Said Mouline, CEO of the Morocco Agency for Energy Efficiency (AMEE), Morocco has also successfully driven down cost.
(Extract from the MIT Green Future Index Report 2021).
“At less than $0.03 per kilowatt hour, renewables are nowour cheapest way to produce electricity.” Fossil fuel subsidies have been eliminated and replaced with energy transition programs, for example to replace gas-fuelled farm irrigation with solar-powered pumps. Nearly 40,000 pumps have been installed to date. Another program provides solar conversion incentives for steel and cement producers and mining companies.
Mouline envisions Morocco becoming a regional climate advocate within Africa. “Today in Africa we have 600 million people who don’t have electricity, and we have the tools and capabilities to help leverage renewables to bridge that gap.” AMEE created a capacity-building centre in Marrakesh to train Africans from other countries in areas like renewable electrification and sustainable pumping for agriculture.
Morocco is also looking north to Europe. Some 60% of wind turbine blades produced in a new Moroccan factory will be for the export market, mainly to Europe. Decarbonisation will be essential to align with Europe’s New Green Deal, as well as capitalise on its opportunities. “Europe’s recovery plans will involve billions in hydrogen investment—we are now pushing to develop hydrogen resources, including storage technology and ammonia production to align with those aspirations. It is our new mission as an agency.”
