Morocco Advances Energy Storage with Global Call for Battery Mega-Farms

Morocco is accelerating its energy transition by issuing a global call for expressions of interest to build two large-scale battery storage facilities. The projects are spearheaded by the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN) and Morocco’s national electricity company ONEE.  

On May 20, 2025, MASEN received financing approval from the World Bank for its "Morocco Energy Storage Testbed Project", aiming to enhance grid stability. The planned battery energy storage system (BESS) near the Noor Ouarzazate solar complex will replace less reliable thermal salt storage with advanced lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery technology. MASEN's international tender, valued at approximately $3.25 million, remains open until May 2026, with operations expected to start by April 2027. 

Meanwhile, ONEE announced ambitious plans to deploy 1,600 MWh of battery storage across ten strategic sites, including Kenitra and Settat, targeting an 18-month timeline to commissioning. Both agencies intend to source LFP batteries from emerging local production facilities operated by international manufacturers, such as Gotion High-Tech, which is establishing a gigafactory near Kenitra. 

Moreover, Morocco is also investing in sustainable battery materials research. The Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, in cooperation with Germany’s Max Planck Institute, explores biomass-derived hard carbon for sodium-ion battery anodes, aiming to reduce reliance on fossil-based materials and agricultural waste. For more information see here.