Renewable Energy Development in Morocco: Reflections on Optimal Choices through Long-term Bottom-up Modeling

• Published in: 2021 International Conference on Electrical, Computer and Energy Technologies (ICECET) pp. 1 - 5
• Main Authors: Slimani, Jabrane, Kadrani, Abdeslam, Harraki, Imad El, Ezzahid, El hadj
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 09-12-2021
• Subjects: Computational modeling; Costs; Electric potential; Energy system modelling; Optimization model; OSeMOSYS; Power system; Production; Renewable energies; Renewable energy sources; Stability analysis; Wind energy
• DOI: 10.1109/ICECET52533.2021.9698630

Renewable energies are a strategic source of green growth for countries suffering from a shortage of fossil fuels. They represent a sustainable, inexhaustible and decarbonized answer to the future challenges of energy dependency. Morocco has adopted a new energy strategy focused on the development of solar, wind and hydroelectric energy to strengthen its energy policy. This strategy will allow the country to adapt to current global challenges. Indeed, Morocco's total renewable energy production capacity should reach over 52% by 2030. The objective of this paper was to model and analyze the Moroccan electricity mix between 2010 and 2050. The aim of such analysis was to identify the optimal and economical technological solutions. Three scenarios have been used. These are the status quo scenario, the scenario of the current energy strategy of Morocco and an accelerated scenario of the current energy strategy. We have found that the choices of different electricity generation technologies used early in the Moroccan energy transition were not necessarily optimal. Indeed, renewable energy has been demonstrated to have the potential to become dominant in the Moroccan electricity sector when combined with flexible generation technologies, such as Combined Cycle Power Plants and Pumped Hydroelectric Energy Storage.