Morocco’s Grid Leap: A 1,000 km Power Highway for Renewable Energy
Morocco has taken a decisive step toward reshaping its national energy infrastructure with the launch of a major tender for a 1,000-kilometer ultra high voltage (UHV) transmission line. The project—formally announced by the National Office for Electricity and Potable Water (ONEE)—will connect Boujdour in the south to Tensift in central Morocco, creating a high-capacity “energy highway” capable of delivering roughly 2 gigawatts (GW) of renewable electricity to the country’s main demand centers. According to PV Magazine, the tender’s pre-qualification stage will close on January 15, 2026, with commissioning targeted for December 2028.
Why This Project Matters
This UHV AC line isn’t just about adding capacity—it’s about efficiency and integration. UHV lines operate at voltages high enough to minimize transmission losses over long distances, making them ideal for carrying renewable energy from remote generation sites to urban demand hubs. In this case, Morocco’s wind-rich southern coastline and solar-intensive desert regions will be able to feed clean power directly into the central grid, accelerating the nation’s renewable penetration.
For battery storage enthusiasts, the significance is clear: large-scale transmission projects like this create the backbone for integrating distributed storage resources, stabilizing supply, and enabling load balancing between regions.
Strategic Context in Morocco’s Energy Transition
Morocco has set ambitious renewable energy targets, with studies—such as one from the Imal Initiative for Climate and Development—estimating the potential for 28.6 GW of distributed solar capacity capable of generating 66.8 terawatt-hours annually. This UHV project is a critical step toward unlocking that potential by providing transmission infrastructure that matches the scale of generation possibilities.
It also complements ongoing projects, including a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) link between southern and central Morocco and a 400 kV double-circuit line set to deliver an additional 900 MW primarily from new wind farms. Together, these developments indicate a coordinated push toward grid modernization and renewable integration.
Technical Highlights
- Voltage Level: Ultra high voltage alternating current (UHV AC) for minimal transmission losses.
- Capacity: ~2 GW, enough to power millions of homes.
- Route: Boujdour (southern Morocco) to Tensift (central Morocco), ~1,000 km.
- Timeline: Pre-qualification closes January 15, 2026; commissioning by December 2028.
- Delivery Model: Engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) turnkey contract.
Implications for Battery and Storage Markets
For the energy storage sector, long-distance high-capacity lines change the game. They enable distributed battery assets to operate as part of a unified national system, making it possible to store excess renewable output in one region and discharge it in another during peak demand. This reduces reliance on fossil-based peaker plants and helps smooth out intermittency issues inherent in solar and wind generation.
In practical terms, Morocco’s UHV expansion could pave the way for large-scale battery installations near generation sites, creating “energy reservoirs” that feed the line during periods of low renewable output—offering new investment opportunities for storage providers and technology developers.
Tender Structure and Execution Model
According to Medias24, ONEE’s tender is split into two stages:
- Pre-qualification: Contractors submit credentials and capability statements (deadline: January 15, 2026).
- EPC Turnkey Stage: Selected bidders deliver full engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning, assuming total responsibility for project delivery.
This turnkey approach ensures accountability, compresses delivery timelines, and gives ONEE a single point of contact for project execution—critical when dealing with complex high-voltage infrastructure.
Looking Ahead
Morocco’s investment in UHV transmission is more than an engineering milestone—it’s a signal to global investors and clean energy innovators that the country is building the infrastructure to support a renewable-powered future. For battery technology enthusiasts, the promise is a more flexible, resilient grid capable of harnessing and storing renewable energy at unprecedented scales.
With commissioning slated for late 2028, stakeholders across the energy spectrum—from wind developers to battery integrators—will be watching closely as Morocco builds one of the most significant transmission lines in its modern history.
