Energiewende: Wüstenstrom für Deutschland: Marokko unterstützt Mega-Projekt Sila Atlantik

Germany has received an important signal from Morocco, with Energy Minister Leila Benali praising the Wüstenstrom project "Sila Atlantik" in a letter addressed to German Economic State Secretary Frank Wetzel. The project aims to bring large amounts of renewable energy from Morocco to Germany via a cable, with wind farms and solar plants totaling 15 gigawatts (GW) and capable of generating up to 26 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity per year - roughly five percent of Germany's electricity consumption. The letter comes in response to a previous inquiry from Wetzel, who sought support for the project.

For the project's initiators, the positive response from the Moroccan government is crucial. Roman Dudenhausen, one of the project's founders, stated that the support from the Moroccan government is essential for Sila Atlantik. The project is also benefiting from the challenging geopolitical situation, as the closure of the Hormuz Strait has once again highlighted Europe's dependence on fossil fuels.

By generating large amounts of sun and wind energy, countries can reduce their dependence on these resources and make the transition to renewable energy sources in industry, transport, and buildings easier.

The German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection is open to the project and welcomes further exchange with the Moroccan government. The project could significantly deepen the German-Moroccan energy partnership by directly connecting their energy systems and potentially setting a precedent for bilateral and European energy integration with Morocco.

Since 2012, Germany and Morocco have maintained an energy partnership aimed at advancing the energy transition, attracting investments, and diversifying energy sources.

Morocco's environmental conditions for wind and solar power generation are significantly better than in Germany. While solar panel installations in Germany achieve an average of about 1000 full-load hours per year, in Morocco, this value varies from four to five times higher, depending on the location. The flow of electricity in both directions is also conceivable, with wind energy having a slightly greater difference.

Higher utilization of plants in Morocco reduces costs per kilowatt-hour. The more evenly the energy is produced, the lower the system costs in Germany, reducing the need for expensive balancing mechanisms like gas-fired power plants.