Morocco and Côte d’Ivoire have inaugurated the Green Energy Park Maroc–Côte d’Ivoire (GEP-MCI), a collaborative platform dedicated to applied research, testing, and training in solar photovoltaic and thermal technologies.
The facility was officially launched on February 13 at the Institut National Polytechnique Houphouët-Boigny campus in Yamoussoukro.
The initiative brings together Morocco’s Institute for Research in Solar Energy and New Energies (IRESEN), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Green Energy Park Morocco, and Côte d’Ivoire’s INP-HB to support applied research, technological innovation, and hands-on training in solar energy. Areas of focus include solar applications for agriculture, water treatment, and other industrial uses.
“The Green Energy Park Maroc–Côte d’Ivoire reflects a clear ambition: to place applied research and innovation at the service of sustainable development and the success of major energy projects in Africa,” said Samir Rachidi, Director General of IRESEN.
The platform is designed as a testing and demonstration infrastructure under semi-tropical climatic conditions, replicating Morocco’s successful Green Energy Park model established in Benguerir in 2017. That earlier facility was developed by IRESEN in partnership with OCP Group and UM6P.
The launch comes amid rapid growth in solar deployment across Africa. According to think tank Ember, African solar panel imports reached 15,032 MW in the 12 months to June 2025, up 60% from 9,379 MW in the previous year. Despite this growth, local manufacturing remains limited, with Morocco and South Africa producing around 1 GW annually, while countries such as Nigeria and Egypt are working to expand domestic capacity.
Regional research and development initiatives like GEP-MCI are intended to foster a structured technological ecosystem, strengthen local expertise, and advance Africa’s clean energy transition. By providing a hub for innovation, training, and applied research, the park aims to support the continent’s growing solar market and help African nations develop a domestic clean technology industry.
The platform’s establishment highlights the growing collaboration between African countries in energy research and innovation. By combining Morocco’s experience in solar technology and Côte d’Ivoire’s ambition to expand renewable energy capacity, the project is expected to accelerate knowledge transfer, create skilled human capital, and strengthen regional energy security.
Officials say the GEP-MCI will also serve as a testing ground for new solar technologies adapted to African climates, enabling companies and researchers to evaluate performance under real-world conditions. The facility is expected to play a key role in Africa’s long-term energy strategy by bridging the gap between research, innovation, and commercial deployment of solar technologies.
With solar imports increasing sharply and domestic production still nascent, initiatives like the Green Energy Park Maroc–Côte d’Ivoire are seen as critical to ensuring Africa can meet its growing energy demand sustainably while fostering innovation and economic development.
Africa has been experiencing rapid growth in solar energy adoption, driven by rising electricity demand, declining technology costs, and efforts to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Despite this growth, the continent remains heavily dependent on imported solar panels. According to Ember, African countries imported 15,032 MW of solar panels in the 12 months to June 2025, a 60 percent increase over the previous year, highlighting strong market demand but limited domestic manufacturing capacity.
Morocco is a regional leader in solar energy development and technology. Its Green Energy Park in Benguerir, inaugurated in 2017 by IRESEN and UM6P, serves as a model for research, training, and testing under African climatic conditions. The park has been central to applied research in photovoltaic and thermal solar technologies, as well as in innovative applications such as agriculture, water treatment, and industrial heating.
Côte d’Ivoire has also prioritized renewable energy expansion, aiming to increase solar deployment to meet rising electricity demand and diversify its energy mix. The establishment of the Green Energy Park Maroc–Côte d’Ivoire (GEP-MCI) in Yamoussoukro represents a significant step toward developing regional research and innovation capacity. By leveraging Morocco’s expertise and infrastructure, the initiative seeks to accelerate knowledge transfer, enhance technical skills, and support Africa’s transition to cleaner energy.
Local manufacturing of solar panels remains nascent. Morocco and South Africa each have roughly 1 GW of annual production capacity, while countries such as Nigeria, Egypt, and Côte d’Ivoire are working to expand domestic capacity. Regional innovation hubs like GEP-MCI are therefore seen as critical to fostering a structured technological ecosystem, enabling testing, training, and research to support local production and improve the adoption of solar solutions tailored to African climates.
The GEP-MCI initiative also aligns with broader African Union and national policies promoting renewable energy, sustainable development, and regional cooperation in technology transfer. By combining applied research, testing, and training, the platform aims to enhance human capital, encourage entrepreneurship in the clean energy sector, and contribute to Africa’s long-term energy security.
