Morocco Launches Noor Atlas Solar Project with Six Photovoltaic Plants to Boost Renewable Energy Capacity
Casablanca, The Gulf Observer: Morocco has taken a significant step toward expanding its renewable energy capacity as the Office National de l’Électricité et de l’Eau Potable (ONEE) and the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN) signed electricity purchase agreements linked to the Noor Atlas photovoltaic solar program and simultaneously announced the start of construction works for the project.
The agreements cover the development, financing, construction, and operation of the Noor Atlas initiative, a large-scale solar energy program designed to strengthen Morocco’s renewable electricity production across multiple regions.
The project involves the construction of six photovoltaic power plants with a combined installed capacity of 305 megawatts.
The solar facilities will be located in Ain Béni Mathar (Jerada province), Boudnib (Errachidia province), Bouanane (Figuig province), Enjil (Boulemane province), Tata (Tata province), and Tan-Tan (Tan-Tan province).
MASEN will supervise the operation and maintenance of the plants under an engineering, procurement, and construction framework. The agency and the national electricity utility described the Noor Atlas program as a key initiative aimed at strengthening renewable electricity production across Morocco.
Financing for the project combines both concessional and commercial funding. Germany’s development bank KfW and the European Investment Bank are providing concessional financing, while Bank of Africa is contributing commercial financing.
Construction of the solar facilities will be carried out by consortiums comprising Moroccan and European companies, a move intended to support skills transfer and strengthen Morocco’s national industrial ecosystem.
The participation of local companies is also expected to generate employment opportunities in the regions where the plants will be built.
According to project plans, the Noor Atlas solar plants are scheduled to begin delivering electricity from July 2027, once all sites are completed and connected to the national grid.
Once operational, the facilities are expected to supply renewable electricity while improving energy services at the regional level. The plants will also contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by increasing the share of renewable energy in Morocco’s national electricity mix.
The announcement comes as Morocco continues to expand its solar infrastructure as part of its broader energy transition strategy, in which solar power has become a central pillar for diversifying electricity production and reducing reliance on conventional energy sources.
Through the Noor Atlas program, ONEE and MASEN reaffirm their complementary roles in advancing Morocco’s renewable energy agenda and supporting the country’s transition toward cleaner and more sustainable electricity production.
