German-Moroccan Energy Partnership

Project description

Title: German-Moroccan Energy Partnership (PAREMA)
Commissioned by: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK)
Country: Morocco
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development (MTEDD)
Overall term: 2012 to 2023

GIZIMAGE_Parema_Logo

Context

The German-Moroccan Energy Partnership (PAREMA) was founded in 2012 with the signing of a joint Memorandum of Understanding. Morocco has enormous potential for harnessing renewables, especially solar and wind energy. Given its close proximity to Europe and the existing electrical power lines, Morocco could be integrated into the European electricity market. In the long term, this scenario would benefit both sides. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH advises and supports PAREMA in its objective of contributing to the global energy transition and supporting the Moroccan energy market in its transformation.

PAREMA is part of the global programme on Supporting Bilateral Energy Partnerships in Developing Countries and Emerging Economies. The project supports the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) in implementing and conceptually developing energy partnerships (EP) with Algeria, Brazil, Chile, China, Ethiopia, India, Morocco, Mexico, South Africa and Tunisia, and in developing new dialogue structures with further developing countries and emerging economies.

Objective

Morocco builds up a sustainable energy supply using renewable energy sources and efficient energy technologies. A statutory framework has been put in place to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Approach

The areas of cooperation and thematic priorities of the energy partnership include:

  • Support for the formulation of long-term energy strategies
  • Promotion of market-oriented business and research projects
  • Development of low emission strategies as part of energy projects
  • Advisory services on the market and system integration of renewable energy
  • Opening of low-voltage and medium-voltage grids to feed in electricity from solar energy plants
  • Promotion of energy efficiency measures

The Energy Partnership is between the BMWK and the Moroccan Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development (MTEDD).

Other key actors include:

  • The German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV)
  • The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
  • The German Federal Foreign Office (AA)
  • The Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN)
  • The Moroccan Agency for Energy Efficiency (AMEE)
  • Morocco’s national water and electricity supply agency and grid operator (ONEE)
  • The Moroccan Energy Investment Company as a ‘super ESCO’ (energy supply company)
  • Moroccan Research Institute for Solar Energy and New Energies (IRESEN)

With the support of GIZ, two permanent secretariats have been set up in Rabat and Berlin. They serve as a first point of contact and platform for all stakeholders, providing information on the Energy Partnership’s activities

Results

In November 2018, King Mohammed VI of Morocco announced that the country would be increasing the proportion of energy it generates from renewable sources by 2030. This project reflects ONEE’s electrical development plan. The final plan is due to be finalised by ONEE in 2020.

At the German-Moroccan Energy Conference, which focused on a successful energy transition, more than 350 participants from politics, the private sector, academia, think-tanks, the media and the population at large shared experiences and knowledge about key aspects of the energy transition in Morocco. There was substantial interest in developing ‘power-to-X’ (PtX). The PtX process enables surplus electricity to be stored using a range of technologies. In 2018, the Moroccan Research Institute for Solar Energy and New Energies (IRESEN) undertook an exploratory trip to Germany to explore this area. Following agreement of the Energy Partnership, a feasibility study of the scope for PtX in Morocco was launched. The project attracted great interest, particularly from the German energy sector in terms of potential energy import opportunities.

In cooperation with trade bodies, a national quality mark was also launched for installers of solar power plants. The ‘taqa pro’ mark is designed to ensure the quality of pumps and plants. Photovoltaic (PV) systems can be divided into three categories. The quality mark involves a checklist for the most important standards. The checklist includes three training programmes and a charter of responsibilities for installers, an internet portal on which accredited technicians can register, and a monitoring system for clients.

The introduction of the quality mark promotes links between the two countries and their energy sectors. It also makes it easier for German PV manufacturers in Morocco to ensure quality by means of new supervision and inspection mechanisms.

Last update: December 2022

AZI_0647

Additional information