Saudi ACWA Power Eyes New Investments in Morocco’s Desalination, Green Hydrogen Sectors

Fez– Saudi energy and water company ACWA Power is seeking to broaden its presence in Morocco by investing in new sectors, including seawater desalination, green hydrogen and energy storage, the company’s management in the kingdom told Asharq Business.

The company is already one of the major foreign investors in Morocco’s renewable energy sector, with total investments estimated at nearly $3 billion across several solar and wind energy projects.

One of ACWA Power’s flagship projects in Morocco is the Khalladi wind farm in northern Morocco.

The facility, which became operational in 2018, has a production capacity of 120 megawatts generated through 40 wind turbines.

The project was the group’s first wind energy project worldwide.

Speaking during a visit to the site, ACWA Power Morocco General Manager Omar Aaloui Mhamdi told Asharq that the wind farm produces around 375 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually, enough to meet the energy needs of approximately 400,000 people.

The company recently obtained authorization to increase the plant’s capacity by an additional 40 megawatts.

The expansion is expected to require an investment of around MAD 550 million ($60 million) and could be completed within the next two years to respond to growing demand from industrial clients.

Electricity generated by the Khalladi wind farm is sold directly to Moroccan industrial companies operating in sectors such as cement, textiles, and steel through long-term power purchase agreements.

The arrangement is made possible under Morocco’s renewable energy framework, which allows private companies to generate and sell renewable electricity directly to consumers.

ACWA Power currently operates several renewable energy projects across Morocco, including the Noor Ouarzazate solar complex, the Khalladi wind farm, and solar power plants in Laayoune and Boujdour.

The company is also among the investors selected by the Moroccan government in the first phase of the country’s green hydrogen development program.

Discussions between the company and Moroccan authorities are still ongoing before moving to the next stages of land allocation and project implementation.

Mhamdi said renewable energy remains a key focus for the company in Morocco, while future investments could also target desalination projects and green hydrogen production.

He noted that Morocco has significant renewable energy potential across different regions of the country.

Morocco has positioned itself as a regional hub for renewable energy and green hydrogen, attracting growing interest from international investors seeking to benefit from the country’s wind and solar resources.

The government has launched several large-scale initiatives aimed at supporting the development of clean energy industries and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

ACWA Power is one of the largest energy and desalination companies in the Middle East.

The company operates projects in 15 countries and manages assets valued at more than $124 billion, with an electricity generation capacity of nearly 98 gigawatts, including over 52 gigawatts from renewable energy sources.