{
  "id": 315671,
  "title": "Europe Bets Billions on North Africa’s Clean Energy Potential",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/europe-bets-billions-on-north-africas-clean-energy-potential",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-08T15:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "OilPrice",
    "slug": "oilprice",
    "url": "https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Europe-Bets-Billions-on-North-Africas-Clean-Energy-Potential.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Europe is bolstering its partnerships with North African nations to strengthen clean energy connections, as part of a green transition. Both the European Union and individual European countries have invested in Morocco and Egypt in recent years, taking advantage of their favorable climate conditions for energy production. Over the next ten years, Europe and North Africa are expected to establish a more robust clean energy trade corridor, reducing reliance on fossil fuels for both regions. In June, the European Commission allocated nearly $5.8 billion to renewable energy projects in the Middle East and North Africa through its T-MED initiative, aiming to provide Europe's grid with clean energy. The plan involves deploying solar panels in the Sahara Desert and wind turbines along the southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean, with electricity transmitted to Europe via underwater high-voltage lines. Europe is already speeding up domestic renewable energy expansion, but investing in a region with more suitable weather conditions could accelerate Europe's transition away from fossil fuels, meeting electrification targets and climate pledges. The EU estimates the MENA region has 2,300 GW of renewable energy potential, nearly double the EU's current capacity. Solar and wind power can be produced in the region at 30-40% less cost than in Europe, with private investment of up to $29 billion expected by 2035 for solar, wind, hydrogen, and electricity grid development. However, the EU estimates MENA will need almost $115 billion in investment to realize its renewable energy potential. The EU anticipates more governments, development banks, project developers, and private investors to recognize the region's value. European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jrgensen, stresses the need to invest in green energy due to geopolitical challenges and rising energy costs. The initiative aims to develop at least 15 GW of new renewable-energy capacity by 2035, creating over 100,000 jobs and deepening the energy relationship between Europe and the MENA region. This is the most ambitious European clean energy investment in North Africa, following a 2019 $106.5 million investment in Morocco's Noor Ouarzazate solar power complex. Germany is also investing $30 billion in a project with Morocco to develop the world's longest intercontinental undersea power link, connecting Morocco and Germany via two high-voltage subsea cables to deliver up to 15 GW of solar and wind power.",
  "summary": "Europe is investing billions in North Africa's clean energy potential, aiming to establish a stronger clean energy trade corridor and decrease reliance on fossil fuels. The European Union, along with several European countries, has invested in Morocco and Egypt to support renewable energy development in countries with favorable climate conditions for energy production. In June, the European Commission pledged nearly $5.8 billion in renewable energy projects as part of its T-MED initiative, targeting solar panels in the Sahara Desert and wind turbines along the Mediterranean shores to produce clean energy for Europe. The initiative aims to deploy a high-voltage transmission line that will deliver electricity to Europe's grid via underwater cables. With approximately 2,300 GW of renewable energy potential in the Middle East and North Africa region, the European Commission estimates that the MENA region has over twice the EU's current installed capacity. The European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jrgensen, emphasized the need for electrified energy systems based on clean energy, modern grids, and increased connectivity to address geopolitical challenges and energy shortages.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}