A With the 2025 African Cup of Nations (CAN) and the 2030 World Cup approaching, Morocco is displaying its ambition to become a model in terms of sustainable sports and hospitality infrastructure, integrating renewable energies and eco-responsible practices. The efforts made for these two events illustrate the Kingdom’s commitment to combining modernity and sustainable development.
One of the strong points of the joint candidacy of Morocco, Spain and Portugal to host the 2030 Football World Cup, listed in the “Yalla Vamos” Bid Book, lies in the intensive use of renewable energies, with an ambition to leave a positive ecological footprint, to make it the greenest World Cup in history.
Morocco, thanks to its flagship projects, such as the Noor solar complex in Ouarzazate, and its wind farms, including that of Tarfaya, as well as the two other host countries were able, together, to achieve a share of more than 40% of renewable energies in the electricity mix in 2023. Through these initiatives, the country plans not only to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also to provide clean and sustainable energy for the needs of the tournament.
An environmentally friendly sports infrastructure
To host these major sporting events, Morocco has embarked on a vast program of construction and renovation of its infrastructure. The action plan includes the improvement of existing stadiums and the construction of new facilities that meet international standards. However, these projects are not limited to technical requirements; they also place environmental sustainability at the heart of their design. New generation stadiums incorporating green technologies will be built in several cities. That of Casablanca for example, the Grand Stade Hassan II intends to receive world-renowned environmental certifications such as LEED Gold. These infrastructures, optimized for minimumser their carbon footprint, are designed to make the most of local renewable energy resources.
Many sports facilities will thus be equipped with photovoltaic panels, to reduce their dependence on fossil energy sources and exploit the generous sunshine that the country enjoys. The move towards renewable energies is part of the national energy transition strategy, which aims to reach 52% of installed electricity capacity from renewable sources by 2030. Partnerships have been sealed between local companies and stakeholders international partners to integrate innovative technological solutions. These are storage batteries and intelligent energy management systems, which make it possible to optimize consumption according to real needs and climatic conditions.
Sustainable design principles
In addition to the integration of renewable energies, the infrastructures are also designed to minimize the environmental impact at each stage of their life cycle. This includes sustainable and local building materials such as green cement and steel, reducing the carbon footprint associated with transportation and manufacturing of materials. Stadiums and other buildings are also designed according to bioclimatic principles, taking into account natural elements such as ventilation and natural light to reduce energy consumption.
In addition, Morocco has chosen to strengthen accessibility and public transport infrastructure around sports sites to encourage spectators to favor less polluting means of transport. The construction of tram lines and improvements to bus networks around the main stadiums is also on the agenda, as is the installation of electric shuttles to reduce air pollution around busy areas as well as dependency to private vehicles.
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