Power Sector Transition in Mediterranean/North Africa

From Global Energy Monitor

Introduction

For the purposes of campaign planning, the Mediterranean countries captured in this page are Spain, France, Italy, Turkiye, Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco. This was determined based on existing renewable planning, as well as the presence of active campaigners on the ground. As a whole, these countries have a total population of 421,423,166 residents[1] and a land area of 4,115,683 square kilometers.[2]

Symbolic Importance

The Mediterranean region is a hotspot for climate change, which is "warming faster than the global average... at rates about 20% above global means."[3] The social and environmental impacts of continued fossil fuel use are substantial, ranging from weather events like droughts and floods to population declines of endemic species (see sections Current impacts from fossil fuels and Land availability).

Development of renewables in the Mediterranean has been fairly uneven. Most renewables in the region have been deployed on the northern side in Europe, despite the immense renewable energy potential in North Africa. According to think tanks like Italy's Ecco, energy market integration between across the Mediterranean would offer "enhanced energy security and power system reliability, supply mix diversification, lower power system costs, and, therefore, lower consumer prices."[4] European development of domestic renewable energy would severely diminish reliance on Russian oil and gas, and connections across the Mediterranean can help to create prosperity for Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries.[5]

Current System Description

Current Power Capacity Mix

Total regional operating capacity
Data compiled from Global Energy Monitor's Power Trackers.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]
Energy Source Installed Capacity
Solar 50,545.5 MW
Wind 79,598.1 MW
Nuclear 71,448.0 MW
Oil and Gas 178,294.4 MW
Coal 34,684.7 MW
Hydropower 71,131.0 MW
Bioenergy 1,551.0 MW
Geothermal 1,586.0 MW
Total 488,838.7 MW

According to Global Energy Monitor's power sector trackers, the Mediterranean region is dominated by oil and gas, though wind and solar are growing in their respective shares. France and Spain are the only nations covered in this page that have operating nuclear capacity, with Türkiye and Egypt currently developing nuclear assets.[14]

Image contains a stacked bar chart and data table illustrating the installed operating capacity of a select few Mediterranean countries broken down by generation type. The countries included are Egypt, France, Italy, Morocco, Spain, Tunisia, and Türkiye. Chart values are as follows: Egypt: Hydropower (2,778 MW), Oil and Gas (52,522.2 MW), Wind (1,641 MW), Solar (2,105 MW) France: Hydropower (17,434 MW), Bioenergy (348 MW), Nuclear (64,040 MW), Coal (2,029 MW), Oil and Gas (49,688.7 MW), Wind (24,985.1 MW), Solar (10,765.2 MW) Italy: Hydropower (13,242 MW), Geothermal (400 MW), Bioenergy (590 MW), Coal (5,190 MW), Oil and Gas (49,688.7 MW), Wind (9,989 MW), Solar (4,807.5 MW) Morocco: Hydropower (1,395 MW), Coal (4,092 MW), Oil and Gas (1,901 MW), Wind (1,291 MW), Solar (740 MW) Spain: Hydropower (13,448 MW), Bioenergy (493 MW), Nuclear (7,408 MW), Coal (2,900.5 MW), Oil and Gas (30,395.3 MW), Wind (29,485.4 MW), Solar (29,270.5 MW) Tunisia: Oil and Gas (5,771 MW), Wind (253 MW), Solar (54.8 MW) Türkiye: Hydropower (22,834 MW), Geothermal (1,186 MW), Bioenergy (120 MW), Coal (20,473.2 MW), Oil and Gas (26,955 MW), Wind (11,953.6 MW), Solar (2,802.5 MW)
Operating capacity in select Mediterranean countries. Scope includes Egypt, France, Italy, Morocco, Spain, Tunisia, and Türkiye. Data from Global Energy Monitor's Power Sector Trackers.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]

Prospective Power Capacity

Prospective Power Capacity by Mediterranean Country. Only priority countries are included.[14]
Egypt
Announced Pre-construction Construction Total
Solar 5,100 MW 14,090 MW 1,430 MW 20,620 MW
Wind 10,000 MW 35,563 MW 2,512 MW 48,075 MW
Nuclear 0 MW 0 MW 4,800 MW 4,800 MW
Oil and Gas 125 MW 0 MW 2,550 MW 2,675 MW
Hydropower 0 MW 0 MW 2,400MW 2,400 MW
Bioenergy 100 MW 30 MW 0 MW 130 MW
Total 15,325 MW 49,683 MW 13,692 MW Grand Total: 78,700 MW
France
Announced Pre-construction Construction Total
Solar 2,298.2 MW 726.4 MW 427.7 MW 3,452.3 MW
Wind 8,772 MW 8,750.1 MW 1,759.6 MW 19,281.7 MW
Nuclear 6,600 MW 3,300 MW 1,650 MW 11,550 MW
Bioenergy 0 MW 130 MW 64 MW 194 MW
Total 17,670.2 MW 12,906.5 MW 3,901.3 MW Grant Total: 34,478 MW
Italy
Announced Pre-construction Construction Total
Solar 1,850.8 MW 2,450.6 MW 742.1 MW 5,043.5 MW
Wind 16,727.5 MW 29,463.6 MW 175.2 MW 46,366.3 MW
Oil and Gas 0 MW 7,224.6 MW 1,393.2 MW 8,617.8 MW
Hydropower 0 MW 270 MW 0 MW 270 MW
Total 18,578.3 MW 39,408.8 MW 2,310.5 MW Grant Total: 60,297.6 MW
Morocco
Announced Pre-construction Construction Total
Solar 12,500 MW 15,229 MW 1,321 MW 29,050 MW
Wind 17,500 MW 7,773 MW 698 MW 25,971 MW
Oil and Gas 3,700 MW 0 MW 457 MW 4,157 MW
Hydropower 600 MW 0 MW 335 MW 935 MW
Total 34,300 MW 23,002 MW 2,811 MW Grand Total: 60,113 MW
Spain
Announced Pre-construction Construction Total
Solar 19,577.2 MW 86,762.5 MW 7,771.2 MW 114,110.9 MW
Wind 6,089.4 MW 33,956.8 MW 1,710.5 MW 41,756.7 MW
Oil and Gas 0 MW 494 MW 0 MW 494 MW
Bioenergy 0 MW 0 MW 146 MW 146 MW
Total 210 MW 2,447 MW 200 MW 2,857 MW
Tunisia
Announced Pre-construction Construction Total
Solar 800 MW 5,292 MW 420 MW 6,512 MW
Wind 525 MW 75 MW 30 MW 630 MW
Oil and Gas 0 MW 900 MW 0 MW 900 MW
Hydropower 400 MW 0 MW 0 MW 400 MW
Total 1,725 MW 6,267 MW 450 MW 8,442 MW
Türkiye
Announced Pre-construction Construction Total
Solar 1,767.4 MW 377.5 MW 1,350.2 MW 3,495.1 MW
Wind 0 MW 2,756 MW 691 MW 3,447 MW
Oil and Gas 0 MW 0 MW 890 MW 890 MW
Coal 1000 MW 3,608 MW 145 MW 4,753 MW
Nuclear 9,900 MW 0 MW 4,800 MW 14,700 MW
Geothermal 35 MW 364 MW 19 MW 399 MW
Hydropower 737 MW 2,338 MW 160 MW 3,235 MW
Total 13,439.4 MW 9,443.5 MW 8,055.2 MW Grant Total: 30,938.1 MW

Renewables in the Mediterranean and North Africa

Renewable Targets

Spain: Spain increased its 2030 renewable energy targets in 2023. The country now aims to install 57 gigawatts (GW) of utility-scale solar PV; 5 GW of solar thermal; 19 GW of residential, commercial, and industrial "self consumption" solar PV; 59 GW of onshore wind, and 3 GW of offshore wind by 2030.[15]

France: France established a target of 55% emissions reduction by 2030 and net zero by 2050.[16] France's non-emissions trading reduction target is -36% compared to 2005 levels, and an estimated 32% of France's energy consumption in 2030 is expected to come from renewable sources.[17]

Italy: By 2030, Italy aims to have 30% of its total energy consumption (and 55% of electricity consumption) generated from renewable resources. Italy is targeting carbon neutrality by 2050.[18]

Türkiye: In the country's National Energy Plan, the Government of Türkiye estimates that 24.6 GW of onshore wind, 5 GW of offshore wind, 52.9 GW of solar power, 35.1 GW of hydropower, and 5.1 GW of geothermal and biomass power plants will be installed by 2035.[19]

Egypt: By 2035, Egypt is expected to have 42% of its electricity generation powered from renewable resources.[20] In October 2024, Egypt reduced its 2040 renewable energy target from 58% to 40% of total energy share.[21]

Tunisia: In 2022, Tunisia increased its renewable energy target to 35% of total energy generation by 2030. To achieve this goal, the Country plans to invest TND 900 million/year (~USD $294 million/year) to develop more than 4 GW of renewable energy projects by 2030.[22] In addition, the Tunisian Solar Plan (TSP) outlines the following renewable energy installed capacity targets by 2030:[23]

  • 1,755 MW of wind
  • 1,510 MW of solar PV
  • 450 MW of concentrated solar power


Morocco: Morocco currently imports ~90% of its total energy need, and renewable energy will play a large role in the Country achieving greater energy independence and security. By 2030, Morocco intends to have 52% of total installed capacity be renewable,[24] broken down as 20% solar, 20% wind, and 12% hydropower.[25]

In addition, all countries featured on this page are planning for green hydrogen production.[26][27][28][29][30][31][32]

Major Renewable Projects

In-development low-carbon energy projects in priority Mediterranean countries.[14]
Solar
Country Project Name Capacity Status
Morocco AMUN solar farm 7,500 MW Announced
Morocco Morocco-UK Solar Power 7,000 MW Pre-Construction
Morocco Total Eren-Guelmim-Oued Noun Solar 5,000 MW Pre-Construction
Spain HyDeal España solar farm, Phase 1 4,800 MW Announced
Egypt Fortescue Green Hydrogen solar farm 4,600 MW Announced
Wind
Country Project Name Capacity Status
Egypt ACWA wind farm 10,000 MW Announced
Egypt Masdar-Infinity wind farm 8,000 MW Pre-Construction
Morocco AMUN wind farm 7,500 MW Announced
Egypt West Sohag wind farm 5,000 MW Pre-Construction
Morocco Total Eren-Guelmim-Oued Noun wind farm 5,000 MW Announced
Nuclear
Country Project Name Capacity Status
Türkiye İğneada nuclear power plant, Phases 1-4 5,300 MW Announced
France Penly nuclear power plant, Phases 3-4 3,300 MW Pre-Construction
France Gravelines nuclear power plant, Phases 7-8 3,300 MW Announced
France Bugey nuclear power plant, Phases 6-7 3,300 MW Announced
France Flamanville nuclear power plant, Phase 3 1,650 MW Construction
Geothermal
Country Project Name Capacity Status
Türkiye Germencik geothermal power plant 170 MW Pre-Construction
Türkiye Kızıldere-4 geothermal power plant 60 MW Pre-Construction
Türkiye Alaşehir 3 geothermal power plant 50 MW Pre-Construction
Türkiye Greeneco Sarayköy geothermal plant, Phase 7 49 MW Pre-Construction
Türkiye Tekkehamam 2 geothermal power plant 35 MW Pre-Construction
Hydropower
Country Project Name Capacity Status
Egypt Gabal Ataqah hydroelectric plant 2,400 MW Construction
Spain Aguayo II hydroelectric plant 1,000 MW Pre-Construction
Türkiye Eğirdir Golunde hydroelectric plant 1,000 MW Pre-Construction
Spain P-Phes Navaleo hydroelectric plant 552 MW Pre-Construction
Türkiye Pervari hydroelectric plant 409 MW Pre-Construction
Operating low-carbon energy projects in priority Mediterranean countries.[14]
Solar
Country Project Name Capacity Status
Spain Cifuentes-Trillo solar farm 626 MW Operating
Spain Francisco Pizarro solar farm 553 MW Operating
Spain Núñez De Balboa solar farm 500 MW Operating
Spain Mula Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant 494 MW Status4
Spain Trillo Node solar farm 338 MW Operating
Wind
Country Project Name Capacity Status
France Fecamp wind farm 498 MW Operating
France Saint-Brieuc wind farm 496 MW Operating
France Yeu And Noirmoutier wind farm 496 MW Operating
France Saint Nazaire wind farm 480 MW Operating
Spain GECAMA wind farm 329.2 MW Operating
Nuclear
Country Project Name Capacity Status
France Paluel nuclear power plant, Units 1-4 5,528 MW Operating
France Civaux nuclear power plant, Units 1-2 3,122 MW Operating
France Chooz nuclear power plant, Units B-1 and B-2 3,120 MW Operating
France Flamanville nuclear power plant, Units 1-2 2,764 MW Operating
France Penly nuclear power plant 2,764 MW Operating
Geothermal
Country Project Name Capacity Status
Türkiye Kızıldere-3 geothermal power plant, Phases 1-2 166 MW Operating
Italy Valle Secolo geothermal power plant, Phases 1-2 120 MW Operating
Türkiye Kızıldere-2 geothermal power plant 80 MW Operating
Italy Farinello geothermal power plant 60 MW Operating
Italy Nuova Serrazzano geothermal power plant 60 MW Operating
Hydropower
Country Project Name Capacity Status
Türkiye Ataturk hydroelectric plant 2,405 MW Operating
Egypt Aswan High Dam hydroelectric plant 2,100 MW Operating
Türkiye Karakaya hydroelectric plant 1,800 MW Operating
France Grand Maison hydroelectric plant 1,713 MW Operating
Türkiye Keban hydroelectric plant 1,330 MW Operating

Potential of Renewables

Wind and solar potential for the Mediterranean as a whole is estimated to be 3 terawatts, with an estimated 172 GW currently installed.[4]

Offshore Wind

The Mediterranean has substantial technical offshore wind potential (an estimated 1,135.5 GW total). In particular, Tunisia, Italy, Libya, and Greece have a total technical potential of 782 GW, with Tunisia and Italy having installation potentials of 183.8 GW and 206.8 GW, respectively. France has the lowest levelized cost of energy at 67.5 €/MWh, followed by Tunisia at 76.7 €/MWh.[33] Given the sea basin's depth, the Mediterranean will likely see a majority of floating offshore wind installations rather than fixed bottom. Installed floating offshore wind could reach 12 GW by 2030 and 40 GW by 2050, by some estimates.[34]

Solar PV Potential Maps

Map illustrating the photovoltaic power potential for the nation of Egypt, as published by SolarGIS and measured in KWh/kWp. Egypt's PV potential is highest in the Southwest and Northeast and lowest in the North, ranging from 4.6 to 5.8 KWh/kWp.
PV Power Potential for Egypt
Map illustrating the photovoltaic power potential for the nation of France, as published by SolarGIS and measured in KWh/kWp. France's PV potential is highest in the Southeast and lowest in the Northern half of the country, ranging from 2.8 to 4.6 KWh/kWp.
PV Power Potential for France
Map illustrating the photovoltaic power potential for the nation of Italy, as published by SolarGIS and measured in KWh/kWp. Italy's PV potential is highest in the south and west (particularly Sardinia and Sicily) and lowest in the north, ranging from 2.6 to 4.8 KWh/kWp.
PV Power Potential for Italy
Map illustrating the photovoltaic power potential for the nation of Tunisia, as published by SolarGIS and measured in KWh/kWp. Tunisia's PV potential is highest in the south and lowest in the north, ranging from 3.8 to 5.4 KWh/kWp.
PV Power Potential for Tunisia
Map illustrating the photovoltaic power potential for the nation of Spain, as published by SolarGIS and measured in KWh/kWp. Spain's PV potential is highest in the south and lowest in the north, ranging from 2.8 to 4.8 KWh/kWp.
PV Power Potential for Spain
Map illustrating the photovoltaic power potential for the nation of Morocco, as published by SolarGIS and measured in KWh/kWp. Morocco's PV potential is highest along the western ridge of the Atlas Mountains and lowest in the northern half of the country, ranging from 4.4 to 5.6 KWh/kWp.
PV Power Potential for Morocco
Map illustrating the photovoltaic power potential for the nation of Turkiye, as published by SolarGIS and measured in KWh/kWp. Turkiye's PV potential is highest in the south and lowest in the north, ranging from 2.8 to 5.0 KWh/kWp.
PV Power Potential for Türkiye

Potential impacts from renewables expansion

In general, renewable energy impacts will vary from country to country. In Morocco, there are concerns about the human rights impacts that renewable energy build-out may have on rural communities in particular. Solar and wind farms are water-intensive, and their development may exacerbate existing strains. Those who will be able to access deliveries will do so, and those who cannot will experience deepened inequities.[29] In Tunisia, renewable energy projects located on ancestral, agricultural, or otherwise significant land have received pushback, largely due to the process of land "dispossession" and a lack of compensation to locals. For example, beginning in the early 2000s, villagers in Borj Essalhi have stopped paying their electric bills to protest a wind farm located less than 50 meters from residential areas. Locals are demanding compensation for use of the land, which they claim was taken from them, as well as asking turbines to be moved further from their homes. Similarly, in Segdoud, collective agricultural lands have been taken by the State for a solar project called for in the 2015 Solar Plan, without compensation.[35]

Offshore wind in particular poses risk of impacts to the environment and maritime industries. With regards to environmental impacts, offshore wind may create noise and electromagnetism pollution that can aggravate species, in particular cetaceans like whales and dolphins. Turbines may alter the number, distribution, and composition of fish species near project areas and may hinder migration. That said, turbines can create foundations for shellfish, creating a base for ecosystem food webs. Fishers may be displaced, particularly during construction, though early and ongoing consultations can support economic stability in affected communities.[36]

That said, addressing climate change would have direct positive impacts on the region. As described in the "Overview of current fossil fuel impacts" section, the Mediterranean region is highly vulnerable to climate change, and making any efforts to reduce emissions and transition industries toward low-carbon alternatives will help mitigate some of these impacts. According to the Air Quality Life Index, bringing particulate matter 2.5 pollution to World Health Organization guidelines would increase the average life expectancy in every country highlighted in this page. Specifically, Egypt would see an increase of 1.39 years, France would see an increase of 0.34 years, Italy would see an increase of 0.79 years, Morocco would see an increase of 0.2 years, Spain would see an increase of 0.24 years, Tunisia would see an increase of 0.51 years, and Türkiye would see an increase of 1.58 years.[37]

Fossil Fuels in the Mediterranean and North Africa

Fossil Resources and Retirement

While Türkiye is the only country featured on this page that has active coal mines and one retired,[38] operating plants powered by coal, oil, and gas are common in the region. Egypt has 108 oil and gas plants. France has 89 oil and gas plants and 6 coal plants. Italy has 173 oil and gas plants and 10 coal plants. Morocco has 11 oil and gas plants and 11 coal plants. Spain has 159 oil and gas plants and 9 coal plants. Tunisia has 27 coal plants. Türkiye has 88 oil and gas plants and 78 coal plants. An additional 22,486.8 MW of fossil fuel power plants are in various stages of development.[14]

In 2022, Italy was the third highest coal importer in the European Union (behind Germany and Poland) with 11.8 million tonnes imported. Spain was fourth with 9.9 million tonnes, and France was sixth with 1.8 million tonnes imported. Across the Mediterranean, Morocco imported 10.9 million tonnes of coal in 2021 (primarily from Russia).[39]

That said, the Mediterranean has retired a fair amount of its fossil fuel power plants, illustrated below:

Coal and Oil & Gas retirements in priority Mediterranean countries[10][9]
Country Retired Power Plants Total Capacity Retired (MW)
Egypt Ataka Steam power plant, Units ST1-ST2
Cairo South power plant, Units 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, and 2-1
New Damietta power plant, Units GT1-GT2
Talkha power plant, Unit 1-1
Talkha Steam power plant, Units St1-ST2		 Oil & Gas: 1,755 MW
France Albi power station
Blénod power station, Units 1-4
Bois-Rouge power station, Units 1-2
Bouchain power station, Unit 2
Emile Huchet power station, Units 4-5
Hornaing-B power station
La Maxe power station, Units 1-2
La Poterne power station
Le Havre power station, Phase 2 Units 1,2, and 4
Loire-Sur-Rhone power station, Unit 2
Lucy-3 power station, Unit 1
Provence power station, Units 4-5
Vaires power station, Units 1-2
Vitry power station, Units 3-4		 Coal: 6,727 MW
Oil & Gas: 42 MW
Italy Andrea Palladio power station, Units1-2
Brescia power station, Unit 3
Brindisi Nord power station, Units 1-2
Brindisi Sud power station, Unit 2
Enel Genova power station, Units 3,4 and 6
La Spezia power station, Unit 5
Pietrafitta power station, Units 1-2
Pietro Vannucci power station, Units 1-2
Porto Marghera Enel power station, Units 2-3
Santa Barbara power station, Units 1-2
Vado Ligure power station, Units 1,3, and 4
Arjowiggins Mill power station, Unit 1
Tavazzano power station, Unit GT8
 Coal: 4,834 MW
Oil & Gas: 320 MW
Morocco Jerada power station, Units 1-3
 Coal: 165 MW
Spain Alcúdia power station, Phase 2 Units 1-2
Anllares power station, Unit 1
As Pontes power station, Units 3-4
Bahia de Algeciras power station, Unit 1-2
Cercs power station, Unit 1
Compostilla power station, Units1-5
Escatrón 3 power station, Unit 5
Escucha power station, Unit 1
La Robla Fenosa power station, Units 1-2
Lada power station, Units 2-4
Litoral de Almería power station, Units 1-2
Meirama power station, Unit 1
Narcea power station, Units 1-3
Pasajes power station, Unit 1
Puente Nuevo power station, Units 1-3
Puertollano IGCC power station
Puertollano power station
Soto de Ribera power station, Units 1-2
Teruel power station, Units 1-3
Torrelavega Mill power station, Unit S1
Velilla del Río Carrión power station, Units 1-2
Jinamar power station, Units ST4-ST5
Torrelavega power station, Units 1-2		 Coal: 10,892.1 MW
Oil & Gas: 203 MW

Current impacts from fossil fuels

The Mediterranean is highly vulnerable to climate change and is warming at a rate about 20% raster than the global average. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, a 2°C increase in global temperatures would reduce rainfall up to 15%, and a 4°C increase would reduce rainfall by 30% in Southern Europe alone. Given that the region has a population of more than 500 million people, these changes would be catastrophic to existing livelihoods.[40]

According to researchers, the Mediterranean is "characterised by a high level of endemism and species richness, encompassing a diverse range of marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecoregions." An estimated 7% of all biodiversity globally is found in the Mediterranean, and small changes in environmental systems can create massive impacts on fragile ecosystem webs.[41] Other impacts identified by researchers are high pollution levels, land degradation and biogeochemical changes (particularly carbon-rich agricultural soils), increased ocean acidity, and sea level rise, especially in western North Africa, i.e. Morocco.[42]

Specific event examples that have impacted Mediterranean nations are summarized in the table below:

Environmental Impacts of Climate Change in the Mediterranean[43]
Environmental event Year of event Afflicted countries Impact
Floods 2023 Italy
Greece
Spain
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Croatia
Slovenia		 Landslides
Infrastructural damage
Droughts 2021-2023 Morocco
Algeria
Spain
Southern France
Northern Italy		 Strained water resources
Strain on agriculture
Strain on energy production (especially hydropower)
Wildfires 2023 Italy
Algeria
Tunisia
Greece		 Human casualties
Infrastructural damage
Forest destruction
Economic losses
Pollution events
(oil spills, smog events, etc.)		 2021 (Oil Spill) Israel Fauna casualties
Damage to ecosystems
Diminished water quality

In addition, migration is already fraught in the Mediterranean. In the 2022 IPCC report, climate change and its impacts on weather events will drive displacement and migration around the world. North Africa is expected to experience heat waves and droughts, both of which are and will continue to impact livelihoods, driving migration out of these locations.[44]

Employment

Current employment from the fossil fuel sector

Global Energy Monitor's Global Coal Mine Tracker estimates that Türkiye, the only country featured on this page with active coal mines, employs 14,066 individuals.[38]

The European Union aggregates employment statistics for member nations broken down by sectors. Energy supply services within the Utilities sector employed 207,300 individuals in France and 118,100 individuals in Italy.[45]

Current employment from renewables

The Observeratoire Méditerranéen de l'Energie estimates a substantial increase in the number of Mediterranean renewable jobs. Between 2009 and 2019, renewable jobs in the region increased by over 20,000, from 39,000 to 72,000.[46]

Several Mediterranean countries are already well-established in green and low-carbon industries. In 2023, Tunisia had 23% of the country's total employment come from green jobs, followed by Italy at 11%, Spain at 9%, Türkiye at 3%, France at 2%, and Morocco and Egypt at 1% each.[43]

In 2019, Egypt had an estimated 12,000 jobs across all renewable energy generation types.[47]

Prospective employment from the renewable energy sector

Several Mediterranean countries are prepping for their green economy futures, with working populations well-skilled for the energy transition. The Union for the Mediterranean projects the following green jobs numbers in 2030 for each country:[43]

  • Egypt: 120,000
  • France: 200,000
  • Italy: 698,000
  • Morocco: 27,500
  • Spain: 500,000
  • Türkiye: 300,000
  • Tunisia: 115,000


Other reports provide slightly different estimates. For example, achieving Egypt's clean energy and green technology goals will require the addition of 67,000 jobs per year until 2050. USD $1 million invested in either renewables or efficiency would create 25 and 10 jobs, respectively.[47] In Morocco, investments toward the national renewable energy goals could create 25,000 net jobs (renewables created minus fossil fuels lost), though a lack of skilled workers is hindering progress, so appropriate workforce development programming is a necessity.[48] Other regional estimates project the creation of 285,000 jobs under more conservative scenarios and 345,000 jobs under aggressive pathways by 2050.[46]

Land availability

The Mediterranean is a hotbed of different uses. Fishing is a EUR €4.6 billion industry employing an estimated 180,000 individuals across 80,000 vessels,[49] which offshore energy will need to contend with. While the Convention on Biological Diversity called for the protection of 10% of marine and coastal waters by 2020, the Mediterranean far underperformed.[50] An estimated 8.33% of the Mediterranean was officially designated as protected in 2020, with only 0.04% regulated to be no-go, no-take, or no-fishing area and the vast majority (over 97%) in European Union member states.[51]

Fish catches have decreased over the last 20 years, with some species like the bluefin tuna reaching near-extinction due to overfishing and other human impacts.[49] Additionally, the IUCN Red List has identified six animal species in the Mediterranean whose populations are decreasing specifically because of energy development and mining, which will likely influence siting of future offshore renewable energy and transmission lines. These species are:[52]

  • White Coral
  • Velvet Scoter
  • European Eel
  • Hawksbill Turtle
  • North African Shad
  • Allis Shad


In the North African Mediterranean region, utilizing 1% of available land would yield a potential installable capacity of 2,800 GW.[53] Additionally, specific countries have allocated tracts of land for renewable energy development. Since 2022, Egypt has set aside 40,000 square kilometers of land for electricity and renewable energy generation.[54] France's complex land regulation challenges widespread solar deployment because, by law, 52% and 40% of land are reserved for agriculture and forests, respectively.[55] Similarly, cropland regulatory constraints have resulted in only 1% of Italy's land being suitable for solar development.[56] The Government of Morocco has announced that 1 million hectares will be reserved for renewable projects, green hydrogen, and green ammonia development.[57]

Civil Society Engagement

Mediterranean Alliance of Think Tanks on Climate Change (MATTCCh): Consisting of a network of Mediterranean-focused think tanks, MATTCCh aims to advance policy development and advocacy efforts through research and collaboration.[58] MATTCCh intends to "promote dialogue with the countries of the south of the region and to advance ambitious climate objectives, as ways to also guarantee the European Green Pact and the objective of climate neutrality of the European Union in 2050 in a fair and inclusive way."[3]

European Environmental Bureau: A network of environmental civil society organizations that collaborate to advance environmental efforts across Europe. As of November 2024, the Bureau has 185 member organizations representing 41 countries.[59]

TeraMed: Consortium of civil society organizations working to deliver 1 terawatt (1,000 gigawatts) of renewable power in the Mediterranean by 2030. Partners consist of Ecco, Eco-Union, Ember, European Climate Foundation, E3G, Global Solar Council, The Greening Islands Foundation, The Imal Initiative, Natural Resource Governance Institute, Mediterranean Dialogue on Sustainable Energy and Climate, Pooled fund on International Energy, Power Shift Africa, the Arab Network for Environment and Development, the Regional Center for renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, ReNew2030, the Sustainable Economics and Finance Association, and Zero.[60]

Mediterranean Youth Climate Network: Network of organizations (both youth-focused and not) from 22 Mediterranean nations that coordinate on efforts related to climate action and sustainability education.[61]

Center for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE): Founded in 1992, CEDARE oversees initiatives in line with the Global Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Developments and its goals related to Water Resources Management; Land Resources Management; Knowledgem Information, and Communication Technologies; Sustainable Growth; and Environmental Governance.[62]

Arab Network for Environment and Development (RAED): Based in Egypt and founded in 1990, RAED includes representation from Arab, Mediterranean, and North African countries and intends to strengthen member states' capacities for sustainable development. The preservation of natural resources and the environment as a whole is a priority for the group.[63]

Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development (MIO-ECSDE): Network of 134 non-governmental organizations working across 28 countries in the Euro-Mediterranean region aiming to "protect the Natural Environment and Cultural Heritage and promote Sustainable Development in a peaceful Mediterranean." The networks works with governments, international organizations, and other socioeconomic partners.[64]

Governmental information

In July 2024, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen appointed a new commissioner for the Medierranean, Dubravka Šuica. In this role, Commissioner Šuica will collaborate with other commissioners with jurisdictions across Europe to strengthen prosperity, advance the European market economy, support the green and digital transition, and sustain quality of life.[65]

Related governmental policies

At a regional level, the Union for the Mediterranean has made three significant declarations:

  • The Ministerial Declaration on Environment and Climate Change, which stresses the need to reduce marine pollution and greenhouse gas emissions to minimize negative impacts on the Mediterranean region, which is particularly vulnerable to climate events.[66]
  • The Ministerial Declaration on Sustainable Blue Economy, which calls for strategic coordination on activities and planning pertaining to offshore activities, including offshore renewable energy and other ocean uses.[67]
  • The Ministerial Declaration on Energy, in which signatories agree to collaborate on climate and clean energy planning to encourage sustainable business development and knowledge exchange.[68]


Other relevant agreements are:

  • Desert Power 2050, which can be considered the "most ambitious strategy report towards the decarbonization of the power sector in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa" at the time of its publication in 2014.[69]
  • European Green Deal, which aims to reduce the European Union's overall emissions by 55% by 2030. The Deal's overall package includes provisions for reducing emissions across sectors, encouraging emissions trading, plant and protect natural carbon sinks, and create support mechanisms for small businesses and citizens alike.[70]
  • Fit for 55, a package of cross-cutting policy proposals intended to bring the European Union to its 55% emissions reduction goal as outlined in the European Green Deal. Proposals include provisions related to a socially fair transition and strengthening global competitiveness.[71]
  • Green Deal Industrial Plan, which aims to bolster Europe's manufacturing base of low-carbon and net-zero technologies in line with the European Green Deal's emission reduction targets.[72]


Policies, plans, strategies, and roadmaps for individual countries are listed in the (non-comprehensive) table below:

Clean energy policies, regulations, and roadmaps in high priority Mediterranean countries
Country Policy/Regulation/Roadmap Year Summary
Egypt Vision of Egypt 2030[73] 2023 Egypt's national agenda for sustainable development. Introduces six primary goals for sustainable development: 1) improve Egyptians' quality of life and raise their standards of living; 2) advance social justice and equality; 3) create an integrated and sustainable environmental system; 4) drive the economy towards being diversified, knowledge-based, and competitive; 5) properly develop infrastructure; and 6) foster good governance and partnerships that promote accountability, responsibility, and transparency.
Egypt National Climate Change Strategy 2050[74] 2022 Roadmap for Egypt's efforts to combat climate change and its effects on residents. The approach centers economic development and low-emission activities to maximize Egypt's sustainable advancement.
France Energy and Climate Law (Law no. 2019-1147)[75] 2019 Establishes a target of net carbon neutrality by 2050, calls for the closure of France's last four coal-fired power plants (coal phase-out was extended to 2027),[76] and makes the High Council for the Climate a permanent body at the national level.
Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan for France[77][78] 2020 (Updated 2024) Outlines procedures and strategies for achieving France's 2030 and 2035 clean energy and climate goals. In particular, the plan outlines how the country will achieve the targets outlined in the Energy and Climate Law (2019).
France 2030 Investment Plan[79] 2022 Among other investments, the Plan includes EUR 1 billion for renewable energy innovation projects, which is intended to facilitate deployment of 100 GW of renewable energy by 2050.
Italy Climate Change Action Plan (CIPE Deliberation No. 135/2007)[80] 2007 Incentivizes energy efficient appliances for greater adoption in Italian households.
Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan for Italy[81] 2019 Outlines strategies that Italy will employ to reach the EU's emissions reduction target. Includes 10 objectives, including (but not limited to): full decarbonization of energy sector by 2050, support small and medium-sized enterprises, greater adoption of renewables, electrification of transportation sector, and supportive research, development, and monitoring.
Decree-Law 17/2022[82] and Law 34/2022[83] 2022 Both laws were passed in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and are intended to reduce energy consumption in Italian households, therefore decreasing Italian dependence on Russian natural gas and oil.
Morocco National Energy and Energy Efficiency Plan[84] 2008 Given Morocco's dependence on imported fuels, the Plan focuses on developing wind, solar, and (to a lesser extent) hydropower assets. Established goal to increase in renewables share in overall energy supply to 42% in 2020 and 52% by 2030.
Moroccan Climate Change Policy[85] 2014 Outlines the pillars of action and ultimate objectives that Morocco aims to achieve in their climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.
Generation Green 2020-2030[86] 2020 While primarily focused on the sustainable development of Morocco's agricultural sector, the plan includes provisions to ensure the sector's longevity in the face of climate change impacts.
Spain Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan for Spain, 2021-2030[87] 2020 Establishes the strategies that Spain will undertake to achieve the European Union's larger climate and emissions reduction targets. By 2030, Spain expects a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 2005, as well as a 48% renewable energy share in final energy consumption.
Climate Change and Energy Transition Law[88] 2021 Enshrines Spain's target of achieving climate net neutrality by 2050 at the latest. Also aims to increase renewable energy generation to 74% and achieve a 42% renewable energy share in Spain's final energy consumption.
Just Transition Programme 2021-2027[89] 2021 In response to existing coal phase-out efforts, the Programme aims to foster economic diversification and job creation in highly vulnerable regions of the country. Also includes financing for the green transition.
Tunisia Law and Decree on Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy[90] 2005 Aims to strengthen use of renewable energy technology in buildings and encourages increased wind and solar generation across the grid.
Tunisian Solar Plan[91][92] 2012; updated in 2015 Tunisia's guiding plan for developing and deploying renewable energy and reaching 1,860 MW of installed renewable capacity by 2023 and a 30% renewable energy share by 2030, including 3,815 MW of solar energy. The Plan notes that 80% of financing must come from the private sector to meet the outlined targets.
Renewable Energy Law for Electricity Production (Law No. 2015-12)[93][94][95] 2015; updated in 2019 Opens the power grid and allows private companies to generate, export, and utilize clean energy. Also, establishes a 30% (3,800 MW) renewable energy by 2030 target, authorizes use of agricultural lands for clean energy projects, and aims to create 10,000 jobs. A 2019 amendment improves Tunisia's business climate and allows businesses to create corporate power purchase agreements.
Türkiye Republic of Turkey Climate Change Action Plan 2011-2023[96] 2012 Outlines strategies for combating climate change across the building, industry, agriculture, and land use and forestry sectors. Includes provisions for both mitigation and adaptation regarding water, natural disasters, and public health.

Relevant international and political coalitions

Union for the Mediterranean (UfM): Comprised of 43 countries, UfM works to advance sustainable development though targeted initiatives and investments. In particular, the organization hopes to advance women's rights and job creation for underrepresented portions of the population (such as women and young people) while increasing connectivity and addressing climate change.[97] Member states are: Albania, Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritania, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, The Netherlands, North Macedonia, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, and Türkiye. Syria suspended its membership in 2011.[98]

Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (EUROMED): Established in 2008, the Partnership is comprised of EU Member States and countries in the Southern Mediterranean. It encourages economic integration and democratic reform.[99]

Mediterranean Dialogue: Partnership forum aiming to increase political dialogue, security, and stability in the region, with participation from NATO countries, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia. Threats of particular interest are instability due to terrorism, biological/radiological/nuclear threats, and maritime security.[100]

Permitting

European Commission

The European Commission, alongside European Parliament and Council of the EU, are working to streamlining permitting in line with the European Union's clean energy targets. Currently, there is a two-year limit for new projects and a one-year limit for repowering projects, though a revised Renewables Directive introduces "renewables acceleration areas" where the limits are reduced to one year and six months, respectively. Additionally, the new Directive provides greater clarity on the permits that developers must seek within that timeline. Members of the EU define these areas within their geographic bounds. The revised Directive was published in 2023, and member states have two years to digitize their respective permitting processes.[101]

Egypt

The Renewable Energy Law No. 203 (2014) regulates clean energy development in Egypt. This law allows for private independent power producers to participate in tenders issued by the New and Renewable Energy Authority. The same law also established pathways for Build-Own-Operate projects and created a feed-in tariff for private sector developers.[102]

Grid-connected (non-self-consumption) projects smaller than 500 kW are generally exempt from many regulatory requirements. The steps of project development are as follows:[102]

  • Determine maximum allowable capacity
  • Select the developer
  • Apply for a preliminary approval with the network operator
  • Complete construction of plants larger than 500 kV within one year
  • Plant inspection, conducted by the network operator, to ensure local codes are followed
  • Commercial operation may begin


France

Several permits and consents are required for energy projects in France, namely operating permits, construction permits, and environmental authorizations. An Operation Permit is required for renewable energy developments greater than 50 MW, and these permits are automatically granted to the winning bid of a government tender. Construction permits are merged into the Environmental Authorization for applicable projects. For offshore wind projects, an Environmental Authorization is required along with an authorization for use of maritime public domain, as well as an envelope and occupancy permits. Beyond these permits and consents, a project may also require specific agreements regarding grid access, power plant operation, and balance with consumer demand.[103]

Italy

Italy follows a Single Authorization procedure where representatives from all relevant public entities sit on a steering committee that approves all required permits and clearances for construction and operation at once.[104]

Italy has recently passed legislation intended to further streamline renewable energy approval processes. The legislation identifies "acceleration zones" wherein certain permitting approvals, such as environmental impact assessments, are not required or are highly simplified. In addition, the legislation creates streamlined pathways depending on project size, type, and location while shortening evaluation timelines and removing requirements for refurbishing existing power plants.[105]

Morocco

Morocco operates a one-stop-shop to aid independent power producers in acquiring necessary agreements and permits for land acquisition, financing, and state investment guarantees. It is housed by the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN), which aims to add 6,000 MW of clean electricity to Morocco's grid by 2030.[106][107]

Spain

Delayed evaluation of environmental impact statements has hindered rollout of Spain's renewable energy industry. To combat this, Spain has:[108]

  1. Allowed for mass approvals of environmental impact statements, which stakeholders have criticized
  2. Introduced new regulations to accelerate evaluation and processing of environmental impact statements

Tunisia

Depending on the size of the project, Tunisia employs two different project regimes: the Concessions regime, which is applicable for large-scale projects typically designed for energy export, and the Authorizations regime, which is for projects with a maximum capacity of 10 MW, 30 MW, and 15 MW for solar, wind, and biomass projects, respectively. Projects generally go through the following process:[109]

  1. After the publication of project calls, applications are reviewed by the Technical Commission for Private Power Generation (CTER, housed within the Ministry of Energy). Applications should contain a preliminary study that covers proposed connection, associated cost, and potential grid reinforcement expenses.
  2. Before being granted authorization, potential project developers need to secure a preliminary agreement called the Accord de Principe from the Ministry of Energy. Only applicants who have been recommended by CTER will receive an Accord de Principe. For solar PV projects, it is valid for two years, though applicants may file an extension if implementation challenges delay development.
  3. After an agreement is made, developers will enter into a Power Purchase Agreement with STEG. PPAs are standardized and are not negotiated between the project company and STEG. This may present problems in the case that STEG defaults on payments, given that the PPA lacks stipulations for letters of credit or state support, both of which would reduce risk for the project developer.
  4. An operating permit is granted once the plant is constructed and STEG has verified its compliance with technical specifications. An operating license typically lasts 20 years.
  5. Acquiring land may comprise of two different processes. If land is privately owned, a land audit is undertaken to ensure accuracy and legitimacy of the title. When a property is privately-owned but unregistered, a land survey can help establish ownership rights and assess land consistency, usage, and potential easements. For public property, a land audit is conducted to support granting of occupancy permits and lease contracts.


SolarQuarter has identified permitting and licensing timelines as a barrier to renewables development and recommends simplifying and streamlining these processes to expedite project development and instill confidence in investors.[110] Additionally, a 2018 study by the United Nations Development Programme highlighted one-stop-shop mechanisms as a means of streamlining the permitting process,[111] though as of 2022, that platform does not yet exist.[112]

Türkiye

The Turkish government is in the midst of permitting reform to accelerate commissioning of 8,000-10,000 MW in the next decade. Specifically, the government aims to reduce permitting timelines from 48 to 24 months, on average.[113][114]

Transmission

Map of the Mediterranean region featuring existing and upcoming cross-country interconnection lines. The interconnection lines are broken into five regions: The West Mediterranean Corridor, which is centered on Morocco, Algeria, and Spain and features three new interconnection projects; the Central Mediterranean Corridor and North Africa Backbone, which connects Italy to Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, and Egypt and has five new interconnection projects; the Eastern Balkan Corridor, which stretches across Greece, Bulgaria, Italy, and Türkiye and will have three new projects; the East Mediterranean Interconnectors, which connects Greece to Egypt, Israel, Cypus, and Türkiye and will have six new interconnection projects; and the Middle East Mediterranean Integration, which will span Jordan, Syria, Türkiye, Palestine, and Egypt and will have four new interconnection projects. Originally published by the Med-TSO 2022 Ten-Year Network Development Plan.
Proposed and existing interconnection projects planned by Med-TSO. Originally published in the Med-TSO 2022 Ten-Year Network Development Plan. The upcoming projects are as follows:
West Mediterranean Corridor
Project 1: Morocco-Portugal, nominal transfer capacity of 1000 MW
Project 2: Spain-Morocco, nominal transfer capacity of 600/650 MW
Project 3: Algeria-Spain, nominal transfer capacity of 1000 MW
Central Mediterranean Corridor & North Africa Backbone
Project 4: Italy-Tunisia, nominal transfer capacity of 600 MW
Project 15: Algeria-Italy, nominal transfer capacity of 1000 MW
Project 5: Algeria-Tunisia, nominal transfer capacity of 750 MW
Project 19: Algeria-Libya, nominal transfer capacity of 1000 MW
Project 18: Egypt-Libya, nominal transfer capacity of 1000 MW
East Mediterranean Interconnectors
Project 6: Egypt-Türkiye, nominal transfer capacity of 3000 MW
Project 7: Israel-Türkiye, nominal transfer capacity of 2000 MW
Project 12: Greece-Cyprus-Israel, nominal transfer capacity of 1000/1000 MW
Project 13: Cyprus-Egypt, nominal transfer capacity of 1000 MW
Project 16: Egypt-Greece, nominal transfer capacity of 2000 MW
Eastern Balkan Corridor
Project 11: Bulgaria-Türkiye-Greece, nominal transfer capacity of 1100/-700/+-600 MW
Project 17: Italy-Greece, nominal transfer capacity of 500 MW
Middle East Mediterranean Integration
Project 9: Jordan-Syria, nominal transfer capacity of 1000 MW
Project 10: Syria-Türkiye, nominal transfer capacity of 600 MW
Project 14: Jordan-Palestine, nominal transfer capacity of 200/-0 MW
Project 8: Egypt-Jordan, nominal transfer capacity of 550 MW

Current transmission resources

Morocco has been connected to Spain since 1997 and currently has two alternating current (AC), 400-kV cables with a technical capacity of 700 MW apiece. A third 700-MW interconnection line is expected to be operational by 2026, and an additional 1,800 MW high-voltage direct current (HVDC) is being proposed to connect Morocco to the United Kingdom.[39][115]

New transmission needed for renewables

European decarbonization and emission reduction goals require a decarbonized Mediterranean region, and interconnected grids between North Africa and Europe will facilitate this. By exporting electricity from Europe during summer months, the Maghreb grid would be better stabilized.[116]

ELMED, a planned subsea electricity cable, will connect Tunisia to Italy and facilitate bidirectional electricity exchange between the European and African power grids. The 600-MW, 500-kV cable will run 220 kilometers from Partanna in Sicily to Mlaabi in Tunisia and will enable greater deployment of renewables on both continents, as well as strengthen resilience and further integrate both markets.[117]

The TuNur Italy Transmission Line will the ample solar resources of southern Tunisia to consumers in Europe. The project will consist of 660 km of 525-kV ACDC overhead lines in Tunisia, 661 km of 525-kV DC submarine cables, and 7 km of 525-kV DC and 400-kV underground cables, terminating at an existing high-voltage substation.

Social and environmental impacts of new transmission

Concerns exist surrounding the renewable energy industry's replication of unjust tactics employed by past fossil fuel energy developers. For example, the TuNur Italy Transmission Line will connect an existing Tunur CSP and PV solar plant to consumers in Europe. Activists argue that the project as a whole is an example of "green grabbing," or "the appropriation of land and resources under the guise of environmental goals." The land and water intensity, coupled with the exportation of power away from marginalized region of the country, has generated local frustration.[118]

The 600-MW Tunisia-Italy interconnector line (ELMED), a 200-km undersea cable, will connect both countries' power grids with the intention of increasing energy security, allowing for greater integration of renewable energy, and reducing emissions. The project has received financial support from the World Bank ($268.4 million), the Government of Italy, the European Union, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment Bank, and KfW, a German development bank.[119] This is essential to Tunisia’s sustainable development and climate change strategy, positioning the country as a regional renewable energy hub by connecting to the much larger European network.

Explosions damaging the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea have brought new attention to the protection of subsea infrastructure, including undersea cables. To better surveil and protect this equipment, the European Union and NATO have created new tools, risk analyses, autonomous systems, and other cooperative efforts, though most of these efforts have been focused in the Baltic Sea, North Sea, and Atlantic Ocean, leaving the Mediterranean relatively vulnerable.[120]

Ownership

Major owners of current fossil capacity

According to Global Energy Monitor, the major owners of existing and upcoming fossil fuel capacity are:[14]

  • Cairo Electricity Production (Egypt): 14,038.7 MW
  • East Delta Electricity Production (Egypt): 9,255 MW
  • Middle Delta Electricity Production (Egypt): 9,770 MW
  • Upper Egypt Electricity Production (Egypt): 12,254 MW
  • West Delta Electricity Production (Egypt): 4,279 MW
  • Electricité de France (EDF - France): 5,764 MW
  • Engie (France, Italy, Spain): 4,012 MW
  • A2A (Italy): 8,131 MW
  • Edison (Italy): 6,453 MW
  • Enel (Italy): 18,689 MW
  • Eni (Italy): 5,738.5 MW
  • EP Produzione (Italy): 6,532.2 MW
  • Iren (Italy): 2,523 MW
  • Office National de l'Electricité et de l'Eau Potable (Morocco): 5,501 MW
  • Endesa (Spain): 8,037.9 MW
  • Iberdrola (Spain): 5,202.3 MW
  • Naturgy Energy Group (Spain): 6,513.9 MW
  • Repsol (Spain): 2,173 MW
  • Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas (Tunisia): 6,191 MW
  • Çelikler Seyitömer Elektrik Üretim AŞ (Türkiye): 1,110 MW
  • Electricity Generation Company (Türkiye): 8,325 MW
  • Enerjisa Elektrik (Türkiye): 2,229.4 MW
  • ENKA Elektrik Üretim (Türkiye): 3,290 MW
  • Eren Enerji Elektrik Üretim (Türkiye): 2,790 MW
  • İÇDAŞ Elektrik Enerjisi Üretim ve Yatırım (Türkiye): 1,005 MW
  • Yenikoy Kemerkoy Elektrik Uretim Ve Ticaret (Türkiye): 1,050 MW

Major owners of prospective renewables

Several companies are building significant amounts of nuclear, geothermal, wind, and solar capacity throughout the region. The top 20 companies and partnerships with respect to in-development capacity in the region are listed below:[14]

  • Cobra Group (Spain): Solar, 685.1 MW; Wind, 3,000 MW
  • Grupo Ibereólica Renovables (Spain): Solar, 1,514 MW; Wind, 2,198.9 MW
  • Turkiye Atom Enerjisi Kurumu (Türkiye): Nuclear, 4,050 MW
  • Acciona (Spain, Italy): Solar, 60.1 MW; Wind, 4,099.8 MW
  • Agnes SRL (Italy): Wind, 4,460 MW
  • Capita Energy (Spain): Solar, 1,351.6 MW; Wind, 3,190 MW
  • Endesa (Spain): Solar, 1,818.9 MW; Wind, 2,831.7 MW
  • Akkuyu Nuclear Joint Stock Company (Türkiye): Nuclear, 4,800 MW
  • Nuclear Power Plants Authority (Egypt): Nuclear, 4,800 MW
  • Total Eren (Morocco): Solar, 5,000 MW
  • Scatec (Egypt): Wind, 5,000 MW
  • Bruc Iberia Energy Investment Partners (Spain): Solar, 5,139.6 MW
  • Renantis; Bluefloat (Italy): Wind, 5,545 MW
  • AvenHexicon (Italy) Wind, 7,050 MW
  • Forestalia (Spain): Solar, 1,730.1 MW; Wind, 5,332.4 MW
  • Iberdrola/Iberdrola Renovables Energia (Spain): Solar, 4,519.6 MW; Wind, 2,915.7 MW
  • CWP Global; Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies (Morocco): Wind, 7,500 MW
  • Octopus Energy; Xlinks (Morocco): Solar, 7,000 MW; Wind, 3,500 MW
  • EDF Renewables/Electricité de France (France): Wind, 897.7 MW; Nuclear, 11,550 MW
  • New and Renewable Energy Authority (Egypt): Solar, 16,174 MW; Wind, 38,473 MW

Finance

In 2018, total green climate finance into the southeastern Mediterranean region reached EUR €6.95 billion, of which 58% was provided by multilateral development banks and 41% from bilateral contributions from the EU. The final 1% originated from other international climate finance sources. Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) counties tend to have more projects focused on mitigation rather than adaptation, with EUR €4.25 billion for the former and EUR €1.09 billion contributed for the latter.[43]

Potential providers of wind/solar finance

Regional Funds

EUR €307 million has been allocated from the European Commission's Connecting Europe Facility program to finance the Elmed undersea electricity cable connecting Tunisia and Italy.[121] In total, EUR €850 million has been allocated to the project, including the Commission's €307 million, a USD $268.4 million loan from the World Bank, EUR €125 million from the European Investment Bank, a EUR €27 million grant from the European Union's Neighbourhood Investment Platform, and a EUR €45 million loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.[117][122][123]

Between 2007 and 2020, the European Union has allocated EURO 20.5 billion to Southern Neighbourhood region, which includes Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, and Tunisia. An additional EUR 12 billion is allocated from the EU from 2021 to 2027.[124] These investments are used for a slough of development projects, including climate resilience, clean energy, and the environment.[43]

The Blue Mediterranean Partnership collects funding and expertise from a range of partners to tackle challenges impacting the Mediterranean and Red Sea (specifically Egypt, Morocco, and Jordan), including overfishing, pollution, and climate change. While offshore energy is not a specific area of focus, the funds might be able to support offshore wind as a too for climate change mitigation and resilience. The funding is managed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, with EUR €1 million allocated from the European Commission and additional commitments from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (EUR €6.5 million) and Agence Française de Développement (EUR €2 million).[125][126]

In December 2024, the African Development Bank approved a loan of USD $170 million in support of Egypt's Suez Wind Project, estimated at 1.1 GW. Total project costs are estimated to be USD $1.1 billion.[127]

Country-Specific Funds

In Italy, Gruppo Hera finances clean energy and environmental projects through green bonds and green loans with a total financing package calued at EUR €500 million.[128][129]

Morocco's National Energy and Energy Efficiency Plan has resulted in an estimated USD $9 billion invested in solar and USD $3.4 billion in wind. The Ouarzazate solar project received USD $1 billion in financing from KfW, USD $596 million from the European Invesmtne Bank, and USD $400 million from the world bank.[84]

Other

To support the European Green Deal, the European Union established a new Social Climate Fund. With support totaling EUR €86 billion, of which EUR €65 billion is from the European Union's budget, the Fund will "ensure there are opportunities for everyone, by tackling inequality and energy poverty, and strengthening the competitiveness of European companies."[70]

In a similar vein, the European Commission has developed a Just Transition Fund intended to support workers' transitions in the areas of up- and reskilling, investing in small businesses, research and development, and clean energy development. The Fund has a budget of EUR €19.32 billion for a period of 2021 to 2027.[130]

Articles and resources

Related GEM.wiki articles

Proposed coal plants in Africa and the Middle East | Proposed coal plants in Europe | Egypt and coal | France and coal | Italy and coal | Morocco and coal | Spain and coal | Türkiye and coal | Power Sector Transition in Morocco | Power Sector Transition in Tunisia

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  67. ↑ “Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Ministerial declaration on Sustainable Blue Economy,” Ministers of the Union for the Mediterranean, February 2 2021
  68. ↑ “UfM Ministerial Declaration on Energy,” Ministers of the Union for the Mediterranean, June 14 2021
  69. ↑ “"Desert Power 2050: Regional and sectoral impacts of renewable electricity production in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa",” Global Trade Analysis Project at Purdue University, September 15 2023
  70. ↑ 70.0 70.1 “Delivering the European Green Deal,” European Union, Retrieved November 21 2024
  71. ↑ “What is the Fit for 55 package?,” Council of the EU and the European Council, Retrieved November 21 2024
  72. ↑ “Leading the clean tech revolution,” European Union, Retrieved November 21 2024
  73. ↑ “Vision of Egypt 2030: The National Agenda for Sustainable Development,” Egyptian Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, 2023
  74. ↑ “Egypt National Climate Change Strategy 2050,” Egyptian Ministry of Environment, 2022
  75. ↑ “Law no. 2019-1147 on Energy and the climate,” Climate Change Laws of the World, 2019
  76. ↑ “France's Macron confirms coal phase-out and EV boost,” Argus Media, September 25 2023
  77. ↑ “Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan for France,” Government of France, March 2020
  78. ↑ “National Energy Climate - Plan,” Government of France, June 2024
  79. ↑ “"France 2030 investment Plan"- Investment in renewable energy innovation,” International Energy Agency, July 2 2024
  80. ↑ “Climate Change Action Plan (CIPE Deliberation No. 135/2007),” Climate Change Laws of the World, Retrieved November 19 2024
  81. ↑ “Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan,” Italian Ministries of Economic Development, Environment and Protection of Natural Resources and the Sea, and Infrastructure and Transport, December 2019
  82. ↑ “Decree-Law 17/2022 on energy support,” Climate Change Laws of the World, Retrieved November 19 2024
  83. ↑ “Law 34/2022 "operation thermostat",” Climate Change Laws of the World, Retrieved November 19 2024
  84. ↑ 84.0 84.1 [Uhttps://www.sdg16.plus/policies/moroccos-national-energy-and-energy-efficiency-plan/ “Morocco's National Energy and Energy Efficiency Plan,”] New York University Center on International Cooperation, Retrieved November 19 2024
  85. ↑ “Moroccan Climate Change Policy,” Moroccan Ministry Delegate of the Minister of Energy, Mines, Water and Environment, in charge of Environment, March 2014
  86. ↑ “Generation Green 2020-2030,” Climate Change Laws of the World, Retrieved November 19 2024
  87. ↑ “Spain - Final updated NECP 2021-2030 (submitted 2024),” European Commission, September 26 2024
  88. ↑ “Climate change and energy transition law,” International Energy Agency, November 18 2022
  89. ↑ “Just Transition Programme Spain 2021-2027,” European Commission, Retrieved November 21 2024
  90. ↑ “Law and Decree on Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Tunisia (2005),” Climate Policy Database, November 2020
  91. ↑ “Tunisia: Derisking Renewable Energy Investment,” United Nations Development Programme, October 29 2014
  92. ↑ “TUNISIA: The government wants to develop a solar capacity of 3.8 GW by 2030,” Afrik21, February 25 2022
  93. ↑ “‘Renewable’ energy in Tunisia: an unjust transition,” Transnational Institute, March 31 2022
  94. ↑ “Renewable Energy Law for Electricity Production (No.74/2013),” International Energy Agency, September 6 2016
  95. ↑ “Renewables Readiness Assessment: The Republic of Tunisia,” International Renewable Energy Agency, 2021
  96. ↑ “Republic of Turkey Climate Change Action Plan 2011-2023,” The Ministry of Environment and Urbanization General Directorate of Environmental Management Climate Change Department, 2012
  97. ↑ “The UfM: an action-driven organisation with a common ambition,” Union for the Mediterranean, Retrieved November 12 2024
  98. ↑ “Member States,” Union for the Mediterranean, Retrieved November 12 2024
  99. ↑ “Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (EUROMED),” European Union Migration and Home Affairs, Retrieved November 12 2024
  100. ↑ “Mediterranean Dialogue,” North Atlantic Treaty Organization, August 23 2024
  101. ↑ “Revised EU Renewables Directive set to speed up wind permitting,” WindEurope, April 14 2023
  102. ↑ 102.0 102.1 “Renewable Energy in Egypt,” CMS Legal, Retrieved December 3 2024
  103. ↑ “Renewable Energy Laws and Regulations France 2024,” Global Legal Group, September 20 2023
  104. ↑ “Renewable Energy in Italy,” CMS Legal, Retrieved December 3 2024
  105. ↑ “Italy approves law to boost green transition by cutting red tape,” Montel News, November 27 2024
  106. ↑ “Morocco - Country Commercial Guide,” U.S. International Trade Administration, January 1 2024
  107. ↑ “MASEN In Brief,” MASEN, Retrieved December 5 2024
  108. ↑ “Spain speeds up environmental permits for renewables,” MARiSCAL, Retrieved December 3 2024
  109. ↑ “Unlocking Solar and Wind Potential: Streamlining Authorization for Foreign Investors in Tunisia’s Renewable Energy Sector,” Local Community MENA, October 31 2023
  110. ↑ “Solar Energy In Tunisia: Assessing Opportunities And Navigating Challenges For Market Expansion In 2024,” SolarQuarter, October 27 2023
  111. ↑ “Tunisia: Derisking Renewable Energy Investment,” United Nations Development Programme, 2018
  112. ↑ “Promoting Distributed Solar and Energy Efficiency Mechanisms in Tunisia,” Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, April 29 2022
  113. ↑ “Turkish minister promises improved permitting for renewable energy in strategy speech,” CEEnergyNews, October 4 2024
  114. ↑ “Turkey Targets 120 GW Wind & Solar Power Capacity By 2035,” Taiyang News, October 29 2024
  115. ↑ “Spain and Morocco agree on the development of a third interconnection between both countries,” Re Eléctrica, February 14 2019
  116. ↑ “Integrated electricity grids in the Mediterranean? A bridge for energy cooperation between Europe and North Africa,” Ecco, December 4 2023
  117. ↑ 117.0 117.1 “The Connection with the Future of Energy,” Terna and STEG, Retrieved November 12 2024
  118. ↑ “Tunisia’s Energy Sector: A Just Transition Analysis,” Arab Reform Initiative, March 2 2023
  119. ↑ “World Bank finances Tunisia-Europe undersea cable to connect energy grids,” ESI Africa, June 26 2023
  120. ↑ “The Mediterranean Subsea: Protecting a Super Data Highway,” University of Copenhagen, 2023
  121. ↑ “Elmed: Terna and Steg celebrate the signing of the grant agreement of the European Commission for the Italy-Tunisia interconnection,” Terna, November 28 2023
  122. ↑ “Team Europe commits €472 million to support the ELMED electricity project and its ecosystem,” Delegation of the European Union to Tunisia, June 14 2024
  123. ↑ “EBRD finances Tunisia-Italy 600 MW ELMED electricity interconnector,” European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, June 13 2024
  124. ↑ “Southern Neighbourhood,” European Commission, Retrieved November 11 2024
  125. ↑ “Blue Mediterranean Partnership gains momentum with €1 billion investment pledge at COP28,” Offshore Energy, December 5 2023
  126. ↑ “Blue Mediterranean Partnership Steps Up Support for Sustainable Blue Economy,” Agence Française de Développement, December 2 2023
  127. ↑ “Egypt: African Development Bank Approves $170 Million for Egypt’s Largest Wind Energy Project,” African Development Bank Group, December 3 2024
  128. ↑ “Green Financing framework e opinion,” Gruppo Hera, Retrieved November 25 2024
  129. ↑ “Hera: new 500 million euro green bond,” Gruppo Hera, May 18 2022
  130. ↑ “Just Transition Fund,” European Commission, Retrieved November 25 2024
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