Morocco sets 2040 coal phase-out goal as renewables overtake coal globally for the first time
Marrakech — Morocco has announced a plan to phase out coal power by 2040, contingent on adequate international financial support, according to its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). The commitment marks the country’s first official coal exit timeline since joining the Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA) in 2023 — and comes just as renewables surpassed coal in global electricity generation for the first time in history.
In a statement released October 23, the PPCA said Morocco aims to triple its renewable energy capacity to over 15 gigawatts (GW) by 2030, focusing on grid modernization and energy storage expansion to accelerate its clean energy transition.
Coal decline and renewable surge
Coal currently accounts for 59.3% of Morocco’s electricity generation, down from 70% in 2022, while wind and solar power now supply nearly 25%, up sharply from 9% in 2015. Energy Minister Leila Benali said the shift reflects the government’s broader goal to strengthen energy security and promote sustainable growth.
“The gradual phase-out of coal power, combined with the rapid scale-up of renewable energy, will reinforce our energy security and drive clean economic and social growth,” Benali said.
She confirmed that Morocco has stopped planning new coal plants, emphasizing that the country’s path to decarbonization will depend on the “right technical and financial levers,” including international climate finance commitments highlighted at COP28.
Renewables to power half the grid by 2030
Morocco’s renewable ambitions trace back to its 2009 National Energy Strategy, which set a target for renewables to reach 52% of the energy mix by 2030. The country later expanded its goals under its 2021 NDC, committing to 70% renewables by 2050 and a halt on new coal projects announced at COP26.
To meet these goals, Morocco has implemented large-scale tenders and auctions for solar and wind projects, created the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN) to support investors, and developed Public-Private Partnership (PPP) financing frameworks.
A global shift from coal to clean energy
Julia Skorupska, Head of Secretariat at the PPCA, hailed Morocco’s coal phase-out date as a “turning point,” noting the nation’s transition “from a heavy dependence on costly fossil fuel imports to a future powered by home-produced renewable energy.”
Rachid Ennassiri, Co-Founder of the Imal Initiative for Climate and Development, described the 2040 goal as “a decisive evolution in Morocco’s climate policy,” transforming an implicit ambition into a “clear strategic target” and signaling a managed, just transition supported by international partnerships.
Morocco’s pledge aligns with broader global momentum away from coal. Earlier this month, renewables generated more electricity than coal worldwide for the first time ever. According to global data, solar and wind growth outpaced total demand growth in the first half of 2025, while new coal capacity additions fell to a 20-year low in 2024.
The PPCA, which leads international efforts to end coal dependence, will unveil its Plan to Accelerate Coal Transitions at COP30 in Belem, outlining strategies to speed up coal-to-clean energy shifts ahead of the 2028 Global Stocktake.
