Morocco has inaugurated its first 13 MW floating solar plant on the Oued Rmel Dam reservoir to power Tangier Med Port.
The Tanger Med Group, which oversees the port complex, initiated the project to supply clean electricity directly to the Tangier Med Port while addressing water scarcity challenges amid prolonged droughts.
The Oued Rmel dam usually experiences daily water losses ranging from 3,000 cubic meters during normal periods to nearly 7,000 cubic meters in summer.
The solar plant is expected to reduce this evaporation by approximately 30% from the dam, combining power generation with resource conservation, according to Yassine Wahbi, Water Ministry Official
According to Morocco’s Water Ministry, officials installed over 400 floating platforms supporting thousands of photovoltaic panels as part of a pilot phase that began late in 2024.
The ministry plans to expand the installation to 22,000 panels covering approximately 10 hectares of the 123-hectare reservoir in Fahs-Anjra province, near Tangier.
Wahbi further explained that the floatovoltaic system generates enough power to meet the port’s energy needs, emphasizing its role in the nation’s decarbonization efforts.
Beyond power generation, the floating installation will also reduce water evaporation from the reservoir, combining clean energy production with resource conservation.
Environmental benefits
Furthermore, the Oued Rmel project shows the increasing nexus between water and renewable energy development in Morocco.
Solar and wind power are already being leveraged to supply desalination units, while floating panels contribute to safeguarding the country’s water reserves.
The Water Ministry described this as “an important gain” for resource preservation, especially after Morocco lost water equivalent to over 600 Olympic-sized swimming pools daily between October 2022 and September 2023 due to elevated temperatures.
He also said the development aligns with Morocco’s ambition to achieve 52% renewable energy by 2030, as outlined by the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, which shared early glimpses of the plant in 2024.
For Africa, where droughts plague energy and water security, the project offers a model for dual-purpose infrastructure.
Officials at the Africa Solar Industry Association noted its potential to inspire similar deployments across the continent, including in Nigeria’s dam-rich regions like Kainji or Shiroro, to boost green power and mitigate evaporation losses.
As Tangier Med Port, a key trade hub, transitions to sustainable operations, this initiative supports innovative solutions for energy resilience in water-stressed African nations.
