Floating solar on Moroccan dams could transform water and energy security

Floating solar technology is being studied in Morocco as a potential response to two major infrastructure challenges: water scarcity and rising electricity demand. A recent scientific study by Moroccan researchers suggests that installing floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems on the country’s dams could reduce evaporation losses while generating renewable electricity.

The study examined 58 monitored dams across Morocco, covering a combined reservoir surface area of approximately 433 km². Researchers estimated that these reservoirs lose around 909 million cubic metres of water annually through evaporation. According to the findings, covering just 1% of the dam surfaces with floating solar panels could make a measurable contribution to Morocco’s electricity supply, while a theoretical 40% coverage scenario could generate enough electricity to match the country’s 2023 electricity demand of 42.38 TWh.

Unlike conventional ground-mounted solar farms, floating photovoltaic systems are installed directly on water surfaces. This configuration can provide a dual engineering benefit: the panels generate electricity while reducing direct solar exposure on reservoirs, which can help limit evaporation losses during periods of high heat.

The study highlighted that evaporation rates in Morocco peak during the summer months, particularly in July and August. The Al Wahda Dam was identified as one of the most affected reservoirs, with annual water losses approaching 184 million cubic metres.

International studies referenced by the researchers indicate that floating solar systems can reduce evaporation, with the scale of reduction depending on coverage, local climate and reservoir conditions. The cooling effect of water beneath the panels can also improve photovoltaic performance compared with equivalent land-based installations, although the gain varies by site and system design.

FPV systems can also reduce the land acquisition pressures associated with utility-scale solar farms, an important consideration in regions where land is needed for agriculture, urban development or environmental protection.

Morocco has already begun testing floating solar technology through pilot projects as part of its broader renewable energy transition strategy. These include the 360 kW Sidi Slimane floating solar installation and the larger Oued Rmel Dam project near Tangier, which targets a capacity of 13 MW. The Oued Rmel system is expected to supply approximately 14% of the energy requirements of the Tangier Med port complex.

Researchers noted that Morocco’s expanding pumped hydro storage infrastructure could also support future FPV deployment by improving grid flexibility and helping manage renewable intermittency. Existing facilities such as the Abdelmoumen pumped storage plant already provide balancing capacity within the national grid.

Despite the technical potential, the study identified a major regulatory gap. Morocco currently lacks a dedicated procurement and governance framework for floating solar installations on public hydraulic infrastructure. Long-term operational data on maintenance, anchoring performance, degradation rates and lifecycle costs also remain limited, making large-scale financing more challenging.

With more than 3,000 hours of annual sunshine and a national target of sourcing 52% of installed electricity capacity from renewables by 2030, floating solar could become an important component of Morocco’s future energy and water resilience strategy if regulatory, financial and operational barriers are addressed.