Morocco launches Africa’s first smart grid platform to accelerate energy transition

Morocco has taken a decisive step toward its energy future with the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water launching,earlier this month,Africa’s first Smart Grid platform at the Center for Electrical Sciences and Technology. This initiative,financed by the African Development Bank with over four million dirhams,positions the kingdom as a continental leader in energy transition.

Since hosting COP22 in Marrakech,Morocco has multiplied green economy initiatives and infrastructure modernization efforts. Following royal directives,the country has invested heavily in renewable energy,decentralized production and intelligent networks aligned with the New Development Model promoting competitive access to clean,efficient electricity nationwide. The Smart Grids Test Lab in Benguerir’s green city,integrated into the Green & Smart Building Park platform,establishes Africa’s unique research center dedicated to experimenting with future electrical network innovation.

Smart grids fundamentally transform energy production,consumption and management through real-time monitoring and control technology. These networks instantly adjust electricity distribution according to demand,preventing waste and imbalances while facilitating integration of intermittent renewable sources like solar and wind into national grids,enabling greener,more stable energy mixes.

The revolution enables decentralized production,allowing citizens and businesses to become energy transition actors by generating electricity from solar panels or domestic wind turbines,injecting surplus directly into networks. Smart meters—the system’s pillars—transmit real-time consumption data,offering users precise visibility into energy usage patterns,enabling loss reduction,better practices adoption and more efficient equipment investment.

Energy transition consultant Said Guemra told le360 news outlet that these technologies connect electricity with digital worlds. Through big data,households and businesses can track energy profiles,detect waste,and identify invisible anomalies like water leaks or nighttime overconsumption. Efficiency gains can reach 40%,representing major progress toward energy sobriety.

Progressive smart meter installation,initiated in 2021 for major consumers,marks the first step toward optimized network management. Globally,the smart grid market reached $60 billion in 2023 and should grow over 10% annually through 2032,driven by energy sector digitalization and carbon emission reduction imperatives.