Options Magazine, Summer 2022: IIASA researchers explored the possible impacts that Morocco's ambitious plans for a green energy transition could have on local communities.
As more countries in the Global South begin to transition towards green energy, there has been a noticeable and alarming trend in associated projects. These projects are situated within a spectrum of expectations that range from autocratic megaprojects that hurt local communities on the one hand; and promissory projects that foster sustainability and inclusivity on the other.
Morocco is embarking on an ambitious green energy transition and is planning to construct 20 concentrated solar power plants as part of a national strategy known as the Solar Plan, which aims to not only provide energy security, but also to set the kingdom up for green energy export.
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IIASA researchers looked at Morocco’s Solar Plan and the dynamics set in motion on affected local communities. Research from Tata, a rural Moroccan community where a concentrated solar power plant is being built, indicates that there is still a top-down approach to these large projects with much of the policy field being dominated by national considerations, the interests of national elites, and international investors, not leaving much space for inclusiveness and the involvement of local communities.
On the other hand, the researchers noted that just the announcement of concentrated solar power projects in an area gave rise to a chain of societal and political dynamics that create opportunities for local stakeholders to enter negotiations regarding the benefits for their local communities.
By Neema Tavakolian