Germany has allocated $8.5 million to enhance energy efficiency and renewable energy use in Moroccan mosques. The initiative, known as “Promoting Employment through Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in Mosques,” was carried out by the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) from 2015 to 2021, funded by Germany’s Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
According to Morocco World News, $6.3 million (€5.99 million) of the funding was directed towards expert consultation, planning, and project implementation. An additional $424,000 (€404,000) covered materials like LED lighting, solar water heaters, and photovoltaic panels, while $1.11 million accounted for administrative costs and taxes.
The project also included training sessions for local businesses, skilled workers, and mosque leaders, such as imams, on the advantages of energy-efficient practices and renewable energy. The BMZ noted that frameworks for the installation and upkeep of these energy systems were also developed.
Germany highlighted the project’s gender inclusivity, with six of the nine employees being women as of August 2019. The German government stated that the initiative successfully created business and employment opportunities in the energy sector and was well-received by Moroccan communities.
Morocco has around 52,000 mosques, with the Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs funding approximately 15,000. The ministry, which builds around 150 mosques annually, aims to reduce energy costs and plans to generate 52 percent of Morocco’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030.