Morocco has consolidated its position as a regional leader in solar power, combining record imports of photovoltaic panels with a sharp rise in local production capacity. A new report by British research group Ember shows that while African imports of solar panels from China surged by 60 percent to over 15,000 megawatts between July 2024 and June 2025, Morocco alone received more than 800 megawatts. Unlike most African countries, which rely almost entirely on imports, Rabat has doubled its local manufacturing capacity to one gigawatt annually, making it one of the few solar production hubs on the continent.
The drive is part of Morocco’s national strategy to raise the share of renewables to 52 percent of installed capacity by 2030, up from 40 percent in 2023. Flagship projects such as the 580-megawatt Noor Ouarzazate complex highlight the country’s ambition, while its 900-megawatt interconnection with Spain positions Morocco as a potential energy bridge between Europe and Africa. By leveraging both imports and local production, Morocco is reducing energy dependence and asserting itself at the forefront of Africa’s solar transition.