The potential from concentrated solar power technology alone, compared to the electricity demand of North Africa, the Middle East and Europe combined, estimates the International Energy Agency.

of all energy sources need to come from low-carbon energy sources in the EU by 2030. In the wake of these commitments at the Paris climate conference (COP21), it is time to develop the rich source of low-carbon energy sitting close to Europe’s southern shores, and bolster efforts to agree on a framework to import clean, sustainable energy from North Africa.

Year since efforts to adopt a framework that would allow importing renewable energy from Morocco to Germany—through France and Spain have been made.

electrical transmission interconnection between North Africa and Europe at present. This is a major hinderance in expanding between North Africa and Europe. Further, Spain’s interconnection with the rest of Europe is limited.

existing link between Spain and Morocco. Morocco is likely to see the addition of at least 4,000 MW of wind and solar capacity in the next 5 years.

transfer capacity between Spain and France because of a new 64.5 km transmission line through the Pyrenees Mountains. The €700 million project was completed in 2015.

increase in transfer capacity between France and Spain by way of the EU issued Madrid Declaration in March 2015. This additional capacity will not only facilitate the import to France and Germany from Morocco, but perhaps make it more economical than importing gas for electricity from Russia and Algeria.

of the domestic gas consumption in the EU is imported from Russia, Norway and Algeria. With the new physical integration, Europe gets more options to explore pricing differential between importing gas and electricity. More integration with North Africa creates more opportunities to increase employment and economic stability in a region that has recently been marred by significant political upheaval.

MoU signed between Morocco and Portugal to seek the latter's expertise in integrating renewables with the electricity grid, and later in taking joint leadership role in green energy across Africa.

capacity of wind farm being constructed at Tarfaya on the southern Atlantic coast. Built by French energy firm Engie in partnership with state-owned Nereva of Morocco.