Electricity: Morocco’s Imports from Spain Surge by 45.7%

Morocco’s electricity imports from Spain saw a significant increase in September 2026. According to data from the Spanish transmission system operator, Red Eléctrica, the kingdom received 508.44 gigawatt-hours (GWh), up from 348.93 GWh a year earlier, marking a 45.7% rise. This development comes amid a growing electricity consumption in Morocco, while national production shows a more moderate increase.

The monthly electricity bulletin released on October 19 by Red Eléctrica confirms the increasing significance of electrical interconnections in supplying the Moroccan market.

Morocco Boosts Electricity Purchases from Spain

In September, electricity flows from Morocco to Spain, on the other hand, sharply declined. Moroccan deliveries fell from 9.32 GWh in September 2025 to under 1 GWh a year later.

As a result, the net balance of exchanges stood at 507.44 GWh in favor of Morocco, compared to 339.61 GWh in September 2025. This represents an increase of 167.84 GWh year-on-year. Compared to August 2026, where the balance was 502.12 GWh, the increase remains modest at about 1.1%.

In the first nine months of 2026, Morocco’s net electricity imports from Spain totaled 3,611.19 GWh, compared to 2,683.33 GWh during the same period in 2025. This marks an increase of 34.6%, equivalent to an additional 927.86 GWh.

These figures illustrate the growing importance of cross-border exchanges in maintaining the electrical balance of the kingdom.

Spain, a Major Outlet for Its Electricity Exports

Morocco also plays a significant role among the destinations for electricity exported by Spain. In September, the kingdom accounted for 19.2% of the 2,642.45 GWh exported by Spain across all its borders.

Thus, it ranks second among the destinations for Spanish electricity, behind Portugal, which received 1,676.80 GWh, and ahead of France, with 432.14 GWh, and Andorra, with 25.07 GWh.

This position aligns with a broader trend. According to the annual report from Red Eléctrica presented on March 11, 2026, in Madrid, Spain ended 2025 with an export surplus of 12,794 GWh. The Spanish peninsula’s electrical system has recorded a monthly export surplus since November 2021, marking several consecutive years of excess.

Rising Electricity Demand in Morocco

The increase in imports coincides with a rise in electricity demand in Morocco. According to the economic outlook note for September 2026 from the Directorate of Studies and Financial Forecasts (DEPF), under the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the volume of electricity imports by the kingdom grew by 31.7% over the first seven months of 2026, following a rise of 23.1% the previous year.

At the same time, Moroccan electricity exports declined by 44.2% during this period.

Electricity consumption increased by 9.4% by the end of July 2026, while net energy consumption rose by 5.4%. National production, for its part, only advanced by 2.5%.

The performance of different production sources remains mixed. The production from the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) fell by 2.6%, whereas renewable installations under Law 13-09 recorded a growth of 19.8%. Private production, on the other hand, increased by 1.1%.

Electricity purchases from abroad had already seen a significant rise of 63.5% in the first quarter of 2026, before slowing to 34.6% over the entire first half, according to previous economic outlook notes from the DEPF.

These developments highlight the challenges facing the Moroccan electrical system in meeting rising demand while developing its national production capacities.

Seven Undersea Cables Connect Morocco and Spain

Electricity exchanges between the two countries rely on an undersea interconnection that crosses the Strait of Gibraltar. This connection links the Tarifa station on the Spanish shore to the Fardioua station in northern Morocco.

The infrastructure is jointly owned by Red Eléctrica and ONEE. It includes two 400-kilovolt lines, commissioned in 1997 and 2006 respectively. The entire system is based on seven undersea cables: three for each line and a shared reserve cable for both circuits.

In its commercial capacity forecasts for October, Red Eléctrica reports a capacity of 900 megawatts (MW) in the direction from Spain to Morocco and 600 MW in the opposite direction. The technical capacity for each line is stated to be 700 MW.

This interconnection plays a strategic role in energy exchanges between the two shores by allowing electricity transfers in both directions according to the needs of the respective systems.

A Third Electrical Connection Under Consideration

Strengthening exchanges between Morocco and Spain also involves the project for a third interconnection. In February 2019, during the state visit of King Felipe VI to Morocco, Rabat and Madrid signed a memorandum of understanding assigning Red Eléctrica and ONEE the study of this new connection.

Its commissioning was initially projected for before 2026. Studies by the Spanish operator describe a 400-kilovolt alternating current structure, with a technical capacity of 700 MW.

Once this connection is added to the existing infrastructure, the total commercial capacity could reach 1,500 MW, accounting for an approximately 600 MW margin intended to ensure the safety and support of both electrical systems.

The investment was estimated at 150 million euros, or about 1.65 billion dirhams, to be evenly distributed between the two countries. Red Eléctrica also anticipated nearly 140 million euros in additional revenue for the Spanish electrical system, mainly from transport tolls and congestion rents.

Renewable Energies at the Heart of the Challenges

Beyond the increase in electricity exchanges, the third connection project holds significance for integrating renewable energies. According to Red Eléctrica, this infrastructure could facilitate the integration of renewable electricity produced in Morocco, particularly from photovoltaic solar sources, into the European system.

For the kingdom, the challenge lies in reconciling rising demand, developing new national capacities, and leveraging regional interconnections. The growth of renewable energies could support this strategy, provided that transport infrastructure and balancing capacities keep pace with investment.

The rise in imports from Spain thus demonstrates the growing role of this interconnection in Moroccan-Spanish energy exchanges. It also highlights the importance of strengthening national production and electrical infrastructure to sustainably meet Morocco’s needs.