The Maghreb's role in powering Europe's green future

As Europe accelerates its green energy transition, it must look beyond its borders for new sources of clean power. The Maghreb, with its abundant renewable energy potential, stands as a potential strategic partner. A collaborative investment in North African renewable energy infrastructure could unlock benefits for both regions, simultaneously providing Europe with clean energy and catalyzing economic growth on the other side of the Mediterranean.

The countries of the Maghreb—Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Mauritania—are endowed with natural resources that are ideal for renewable energy production. Solar and wind power offer particularly promising opportunities. The Sahara Desert, stretching across much of the region, boasts one of the world’s highest concentrations of sunlight, making it perfect for large-scale solar farms. Similarly, the coastal and mountainous areas of Morocco and Tunisia are well-suited for wind power generation. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), North Africa could theoretically generate more than 7,000 GW of renewable energy, dwarfing Europe’s current electricity needs.

For Europe, which faces high energy costs and a limited capacity to generate green power domestically, tapping into the Maghreb's potential is both an economic and environmental imperative. The EU’s climate goals, aiming for a 55% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030, and the recent energy crisis resulting from geopolitical tensions, make diversifying energy sources a priority. By investing in the Maghreb's renewable sector and accompanying infrastructure, Europe could secure a steady stream of clean energy through undersea power cables stretching across the Mediterranean. 

Europe's financing and technological capabilities can drive this transition, but the scale of investment needed is vast. The European Union and its member states should consider dedicating at least €100 billion over the next decade towards building solar farms, wind parks, energy storage facilities, and power grid connections in the Maghreb. This sum, though ambitious, is proportionate to the potential returns. The investment would not only enable Europe to diversify its energy mix but also empower Maghreb countries to become key players in the global green energy market. 

Such an investment strategy also aligns with Europe’s broader geopolitical and economic interests. A prosperous Maghreb, bolstered by a thriving renewable energy sector, would reduce the region's dependence on fossil fuel exports and diminish the economic drivers of instability and migration pressures. Europe's green energy transition, therefore, is not merely an environmental imperative but a strategic one, too.

By leveraging the Maghreb’s natural resources, Europe could take a giant leap toward its climate goals, all while fostering economic development and stability in its southern neighborhood. This is a partnership that promises a sustainable future on both sides of the Mediterranean.

*Lonzo Cook is a journalist and writer. He spent two decades at CNN in a series of senior editorial and management roles including leading breaking news operations across Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. In addition to writing on international affairs, national security and business, he works with media companies and corporations on how to evolve and create content to stay relevant to key audiences.