Yesterday, on the 24th of June, 2025, I had the honor of speaking at one of Africa’s most forward-looking energy events, the Morocco Energy Week Summit & Exhibition in Rabat. The summit is fast becoming a beacon for energy transformation in Africa, and being part of this year’s agenda was both a personal and professional milestone for me and for AFF Wind Services.
I participated in a high-level panel discussion titled “Empowering Morocco’s Wind Future”, which brought together seasoned leaders in the wind energy space to reflect on Morocco’s remarkable progress and even greater potential.
A Power-Packed Panel: Industry Leaders Driving Wind Forward
The session was ably moderated by Imad B., Managing Director at EJOT Fixing Solutions East Africa, and included a stellar line-up of speakers:
- Omar Chraibi, Senior Business Developer Manager, ENGIE Africa
- Rohan Kumar Jadhav, Solution Director, Wind – Asia & Africa, Envision Energy
- Khalid Benhamou, CEO, Sahara Wind
- And myself, Afonso Faria, CEO, AFF Wind Services
Each of us brought a unique regional and global perspective to the conversation, grounded in our respective experiences across wind project development, operations, and policy engagement.
Key Themes from the Panel
1. Fast-Tracking Utility-Scale Wind Deployment
Morocco is making bold moves, but the panel emphasized the need to reduce administrative delays and improve investor confidence through regulatory certainty, bankable PPAs, and clearer land acquisition frameworks.
We highlighted successful models from other African and global markets that Morocco could adapt to scale faster, especially in pre-construction and financing stages.
2. Grid Integration for Local and Cross-Border Power
A recurring theme was the need to upgrade and expand grid capacity. Morocco’s wind resource is abundant, but if it can’t be transported reliably or exported through interconnections (like to Europe or the Maghreb), it remains underutilized.
Grid investments must go hand-in-hand with project development. Smarter grid architecture, including digital monitoring and predictive balancing, can unlock new efficiencies and enhance regional energy trade.
3. Technology & Innovation: The Next Frontier
I personally emphasized the role of predictive maintenance, remote monitoring, and AI-optimized turbine performance. The wind industry is no longer just about installing hardware; it’s about long-term, data-driven optimization.
Envision Energy and Sahara Wind offered great examples of how newer technologies, such as hybrid energy systems and green hydrogen integration, could amplify the value of wind assets even further.
4. Building Resilient Infrastructure
The conversation moved beyond megawatts. We explored how wind infrastructure must now be climate-resilient, smart-grid compatible, and embedded in Morocco’s long-term energy strategy. Energy security, affordability, and sustainability all hinge on how robustly this infrastructure is designed.
Morocco’s Wind Opportunity, And What Comes Next
Morocco is already a leader in renewable energy, with over 1.5 GW of installed wind capacity and ambitious plans to exceed 5 GW by 2030. With the Atlantic coastline, consistent wind speeds, and strong policy direction, the fundamentals are exceptional.
But scaling up requires deliberate collaboration between:
- Government agencies (for streamlined policy and licensing)
- Grid operators (for smarter infrastructure)
- Project developers (for bankable, climate-resilient projects)
- International partners (for technology transfer and financing)
This is where we at AFF Wind Services are focused: supporting long-term asset performance, training local technicians, and ensuring best-in-class service delivery from installation to lifecycle support.
AFF Wind Services: Our Commitment to Africa’s Wind Future
As CEO of AFF Wind Services, I remain committed to supporting Morocco and other African nations on their journey to a cleaner, smarter energy future. We bring deep operational expertise and a network of strategic partners ready to tackle the unique challenges of the African wind energy landscape.
Yesterday’s discussion reinforced the importance of shared ambition. The room was buzzing with ideas, insights, and urgency and I left both inspired and encouraged by what’s ahead.
A Word of Thanks
Thank you to the incredible team at The Net-Zero Circle by IN-VR for organizing such a dynamic and thoughtful platform. And thank you to my fellow panelists for an engaging, enriching dialogue. This is exactly the kind of collaboration we need to accelerate Africa’s energy transition.
Let’s Keep Building Momentum
If you’re a developer, investor, government agency or OEM looking to grow your wind footprint in Africa, we’d love to speak with you.
📧 Get in touch at: afonsofaria@aff-windservices.com
🌐 Learn more: www.aff-windservices.com
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