North African companies engaged in energy storage photovoltaics

So far, most of the investments are concentrated in Morocco and Egypt. Contrary to the global trend in the period of 2013-2020 which shows private sector financing as the primary source of funding for renewables development, North Africa sees public finance play a far more important role.

With high renewables potential that can be tapped at low costs, and geographical proximity to Europe where demand for renewables-based or green hydrogen is rising, many North African countries have entered into agreements with other countries and private companies to explore pilot projects for green hydrogen production and exportation.

Situated in the Drâa-Tafilalet Region of the Kingdom of Morocco, approximately 10 km from the city of Ouarzazate, the 580MW Ouarzazate Solar Power Complex is the largest concentrated solar power (CSP) plant in the world.

With its sizable and educated workforce, North Africa has an opportunity to benefit from the job creation potential, driven by appropriate labour market and education policies including technical and vocational training programmes.

With electricity conveyed from the plant to Eskom's Paulputs Transmission Substation, located 5km from the plant site, via a 132 kV overhead transmission line, the solar project is capable of serving up to 80,000 households in the province while offsetting approximately 315,000 tons of CO2 per year.