Heatwave: Power grid under heavy strain

Pressure on the power system could intensify in the days ahead. This is due to the expected rise in temperatures, leading to a significant increase in the use of air conditioners. “ The national electricity system recorded a peak in demand due to the use of air conditioners, on the occasion of the heat wave of June 30 ” , said Leila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, on Monday July 14. This was in response to an oral question to the House of Representatives on the supply of energy-saving and energy-efficient air conditioners to the national market. This peak reached around 7.9 gigawatts, up almost 5% on 2024.
Any over-consumption linked to air conditioners adds to the cost of producing and importing electricity, ultimately impacting the wallets of households and householders. The authorities are already calling for caution and responsible consumption to avoid any overload.
To anticipate this situation, the Government is counting on better regulation of the air conditioner market. A joint decree was signed in September 2024 with the Minister of Industry and Commerce. It sets minimum energy performance levels and mandatory energy labeling for air conditioners, particularly in urban environments. Under this decree, energy performance criteria for buildings have been defined, which must be regularly updated in the wake of accelerated climate change. With regard to mountainous and rural areas, the Minister pointed out that the Ministry is working with the Moroccan Agency for Energy Efficiency (AMEE) to encourage a return to the use of local and traditional building materials. She pointed out that the temperature of model buildings inspired by dry-stone walls remains moderate, fluctuating between 15 and 25 degrees, even in certain high-temperature regions.
During the heatwave of June 30, electricity demand reached an all-time high. ONEE attributes this peak to air-conditioning units, fans and agricultural pumping systems, which were heavily used at temperatures in excess of 45 degrees Celsius. Despite this pressure, the network was able to cope without any outages or rationing, thanks to reinforced capacities. The Office points out, however, that these summer peaks are becoming structural with climate change. It calls for better demand management and accelerated investment in renewable energies to relieve the system. In 2024, ONEE ensured the satisfaction of electricity demand, which reached 45,713 Gigawatt hours, up 3.9% on the previous year, with a peak consumption of 7,580 MW.
Each additional gigawatt mobilized exerts a direct pressure on electricity production and import costs, impacting the national energy bill. We’ll have to keep an eye on the next indicators. According to data from the Foreign Exchange Office (Office des Changes) at the end of May 2025, the energy bill continues to fall, by 6.5%, namely -3.15 billion dirhams (USD 315 million). This fall to around MAD 45.60 billion   (USD 4.56 billion) is mainly attributable to a 14.6% drop in supplies of gas oils and fuel oils, due to a 19.3% drop in prices, despite a 5.9% increase in quantities imported..

Fatim-Zahra TOHRY