4 February 2016: In June 2015, the Government of Morocco submitted its intended nationally determined contribution (INDC) to the UNFCCC, announcing targets of reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 32% by 2030 compared to business-as-usual (BAU) projected emissions and reaching over 50% of installed electricity production capacity from renewable sources by 2025. In a significant step toward these goals, the first phase of the Noor-Ouarzazate concentrated solar power (CSP) plant became operational in February 2016.

The plant will have a 500 megawatt (MW) generating capacity and be the world’s largest CSP project when the final two phases are completed in 2018. It is expected to supply electricity to 1.1 million Moroccans, increase Morocco’s installed capacity of renewable energy from 22 MW in 2013 to 522 MW, a 2,272.7% increase, and cut carbon emissions by 760,000 tons per year.

Over US$3 billion from the African Development Bank (AfDB), the World Bank’s Climate Investment Funds (CIF), other World Bank financing channels and European financing institutions helped finance the project. The project’s financiers emphasized that the project will increase Morocco’s energy security and contribute to low-carbon development. Noting that Morocco will host the next UN Climate Change Conference in November 2016, the CIF said the country’s ambitious low-carbon growth objectives, including its renewable energy goals, contributed to Parties’ decision that Morocco should host the Conference.

Parties to the UNFCCC submitted INDCs in the lead-up to the Paris Climate Change Conference, where the Paris Agreement was adopted in December 2015. To date 189 countries have submitted INDCs, which will serve as the basis for Parties’ contributions to the Paris Agreement, upon their acceptance, ratification or approval of the Agreement. [World Bank Press Release] [World Bank Blog Post] [CIF Project Webpage] [IISD RS Story on Morocco’s INDC]