5 FROM FUEL-POOR TO RADIANT: MOROCCO’S ENERGY …
127
(CSP) plants are more expensive than solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays, CSP
serves as a ‘charismatic, centralized technology,’ or a ‘nation-building
technology that helps Morocco meet its social goals.’ 27 Additionally,
interviewees expressed that without achieving the desired socioeconomic
benefits from renewable energy, Morocco may as well hire transnational
firms to build more fossil generation. Compared to PV, CSP allows
for improved outcomes in terms of the following factors: socioeconomic development, local businesses entering the supply chain, and R&D
opportunities.
Renewable energy is part of a broader industrialization strategy that
focuses on transforming Morocco into an emerging economy. 28 Initiatives also include advanced automotive and aerospace manufacturing,
new offshore call centers, and the new Tanger-Med shipping container
port and nearby Siemens rotor blade factory that manufactures ‘Made
in Morocco’ wind turbines. 29 In 2016, these initiatives began to pay off
as exports of automobiles and ignition wire sets exceeded phosphorus
exports. 30
CSP plants also create more jobs than solar PV. The Moroccan
renewable energy plan seeks to address the challenge of youth unemployment—which threatens state stability—by generating fulfilling green
jobs for young people. In 2018, 26% of people ages 15–24 and 15.1%
of people ages 25–34 were unemployed, compared to 4.7% of people
ages 35–44 and 2.4% of people 45 or older. 31 MASEN requires that
30% of CSP materials come from local content and places targets on the
percentage of Moroccans and local Moroccans hired on each project.
Additionally, MASEN is building power plants in the poorest regions
of Morocco to bring socioeconomic development to those regions. In
compensation for the purchase of collective land for the Ouarzazate solar
power plant, MASEN funded eyeglasses, dentistry, Internet access, and
buses and bicycles for children to ride to school. 32
Climate change is part of Morocco’s focus on national pride, although
not the primary goal of the renewable energy program. Rather, the
government’s goal was to secure financing to expand power generation to meet growing demand by tapping into climate change funding
provided by industrialized countries to the Global South. Additionally,
interviewees took pride in Morocco’s moral commitment to and its technological prowess in climate mitigation. Morocco is also engaging in
‘host diplomacy.’ 33 Most prominently, in 2016, Morocco hosted the COP
22 climate change conference in Marrakesh, which boosted Morocco’s
international reputation. 34 In March 2019, Morocco announced the $1
127
(CSP) plants are more expensive than solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays, CSP
serves as a ‘charismatic, centralized technology,’ or a ‘nation-building
technology that helps Morocco meet its social goals.’ 27 Additionally,
interviewees expressed that without achieving the desired socioeconomic
benefits from renewable energy, Morocco may as well hire transnational
firms to build more fossil generation. Compared to PV, CSP allows
for improved outcomes in terms of the following factors: socioeconomic development, local businesses entering the supply chain, and R&D
opportunities.
Renewable energy is part of a broader industrialization strategy that
focuses on transforming Morocco into an emerging economy. 28 Initiatives also include advanced automotive and aerospace manufacturing,
new offshore call centers, and the new Tanger-Med shipping container
port and nearby Siemens rotor blade factory that manufactures ‘Made
in Morocco’ wind turbines. 29 In 2016, these initiatives began to pay off
as exports of automobiles and ignition wire sets exceeded phosphorus
exports. 30
CSP plants also create more jobs than solar PV. The Moroccan
renewable energy plan seeks to address the challenge of youth unemployment—which threatens state stability—by generating fulfilling green
jobs for young people. In 2018, 26% of people ages 15–24 and 15.1%
of people ages 25–34 were unemployed, compared to 4.7% of people
ages 35–44 and 2.4% of people 45 or older. 31 MASEN requires that
30% of CSP materials come from local content and places targets on the
percentage of Moroccans and local Moroccans hired on each project.
Additionally, MASEN is building power plants in the poorest regions
of Morocco to bring socioeconomic development to those regions. In
compensation for the purchase of collective land for the Ouarzazate solar
power plant, MASEN funded eyeglasses, dentistry, Internet access, and
buses and bicycles for children to ride to school. 32
Climate change is part of Morocco’s focus on national pride, although
not the primary goal of the renewable energy program. Rather, the
government’s goal was to secure financing to expand power generation to meet growing demand by tapping into climate change funding
provided by industrialized countries to the Global South. Additionally,
interviewees took pride in Morocco’s moral commitment to and its technological prowess in climate mitigation. Morocco is also engaging in
‘host diplomacy.’ 33 Most prominently, in 2016, Morocco hosted the COP
22 climate change conference in Marrakesh, which boosted Morocco’s
international reputation. 34 In March 2019, Morocco announced the $1