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.
How much will EV batteries cost in Morocco?
In June this year, the Moroccan government announced that Gotion High-Tech would invest $1.3 billion (US) to build a gigafactory for EV batteries. The initial planned production capacity is 20 GWh, with future plans to gradually increase it to 100 GWh, and the total investment is expected to reach $6.5 billion.
Is Morocco a good country for battery production?
In addition to abundant phosphate reserves, Morocco also possesses metal resources like cobalt and lithium needed for battery production and has cost advantages. Industry estimates suggest that producing lithium batteries in Morocco offers a 36% cost advantage compared to other countries.
CATL has already planned over 100 GWh of production capacity at its European factories. Additionally, Sunwoda is also setting up a battery production base in Morocco. The number of material manufacturers investing in Morocco is even larger.
Since 2023, several Chinese lithium battery industry chain companies, including CATL, Gotion High-Tech, Sunwoda, BTR, Huayou Cobalt, CNGR Advanced Material and Tinci Materials, have collectively invested in Morocco and built factories. The battery industry chain centered around LFP is forming rapidly.
Morocco is preparing to launch a massive foray into clean energy with its ambitious 1.6 GW BESS projects. The National Office for Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) is expected to invite tenders for battery energy storage systems (BESS) totaling nearly 1,600MW.
Additionally, Sunwoda is also setting up a battery production base in Morocco. The number of material manufacturers investing in Morocco is even larger. In April this year, Zhongke Electric planned to invest about $699 million (US) to implement an integrated base project for producing 100,000 tons/year of anode materials in Morocco.