IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/rensus/v192y2024ics1364032123010687.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Renewable energy in Morocco: Assessing resource curse risks

Author

Listed:
  • Leonard, Alycia
  • Ahsan, Aniq
  • Charbonnier, Flora
  • Hirmer, Stephanie

Abstract

Renewable energy development and export creates an opportunity for low- and middle-income countries to foster green economic growth while supporting global decarbonisation. However, without careful assessment of risks, a renewable energy boom could create a resource curse which paradoxically slows growth and development. Here, the likelihood of a resource curse driven by renewable energy development in Morocco is evaluated. Specifically, 14 potential negative impacts of the resource curse (i.e. “symptoms”) relevant to renewable energy are studied. Through surveys with 21 Moroccan energy experts, the highest-risk (i.e. most likely and highest-impact) symptoms are found to be: (1) increased economic dependence on other countries and international organisations, (2) increased dependence on other countries for technology and expertise, and (3) damage to local flora, fauna, and landscape. The risks associated with these symptoms, while serious, are preventable via policy strengthening or intervention. Through 10 follow-up semi-structured interviews and subsequent complex systems analysis, the following policy interventions are identified to mitigate resource curse risks: careful negotiation of robust co-funding arrangements to safeguard Moroccan autonomy; the development of local renewable energy innovation capability, including technology manufacturing and test-bedding; and continuation and enhancement of environmental protection mandates.

Suggested Citation

  • Leonard, Alycia & Ahsan, Aniq & Charbonnier, Flora & Hirmer, Stephanie, 2024. "Renewable energy in Morocco: Assessing resource curse risks," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:192:y:2024:i:c:s1364032123010687
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2023.114210
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032123010687
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.rser.2023.114210?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Brunnschweiler, Christa N. & Bulte, Erwin H., 2008. "The resource curse revisited and revised: A tale of paradoxes and red herrings," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 55(3), pages 248-264, May.
    2. Halvor Mehlum & Karl Moene & Ragnar Torvik, 2006. "Institutions and the Resource Curse," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 116(508), pages 1-20, January.
    3. Rabah Arezki & Frederick van der Ploeg, 2007. "Can the Natural Resource Curse Be Turned into a Blessing? The Role of Trade Policies and Institutions," Economics Working Papers ECO2007/35, European University Institute.
    4. Halvor Mehlum & Karl Moene & Ragnar Torvik, 2006. "Cursed by Resources or Institutions?," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(8), pages 1117-1131, August.
    5. Xavier Sala-i-Martin & Arvind Subramanian, 2013. "Addressing the Natural Resource Curse: An Illustration from Nigeria," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 22(4), pages 570-615, August.
    6. Angeliki N. Menegaki, 2013. "An Antidote to the Resource Curse: The Blessing of Renewable Energy," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 3(4), pages 321-332.
    7. O'Sullivan, Meghan & Overland, Indra & Sandalow, David, 2017. "The Geopolitics of Renewable Energy," Working Paper Series rwp17-027, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government.
    8. Gylfason, Thorvaldur, 2001. "Natural resources, education, and economic development," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 45(4-6), pages 847-859, May.
    9. Ovadia, Jesse Salah, 2016. "Local content policies and petro-development in Sub-Saharan Africa: A comparative analysis," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 20-30.
    10. Eisgruber, Lasse, 2013. "The resource curse: Analysis of the applicability to the large-scale export of electricity from renewable resources," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 429-440.
    11. Thorvaldur Gylfason & Gylfi Zoega, 2006. "Natural Resources and Economic Growth: The Role of Investment," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(8), pages 1091-1115, August.
    12. Corden, W M, 1984. "Booming Sector and Dutch Disease Economics: Survey and Consolidation," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 36(3), pages 359-380, November.
    13. Satti, Saqlain Latif & Farooq, Abdul & Loganathan, Nanthakumar & Shahbaz, Muhammad, 2014. "Empirical evidence on the resource curse hypothesis in oil abundant economy," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 421-429.
    14. Greg A. Barron-Gafford & Mitchell A. Pavao-Zuckerman & Rebecca L. Minor & Leland F. Sutter & Isaiah Barnett-Moreno & Daniel T. Blackett & Moses Thompson & Kirk Dimond & Andrea K. Gerlak & Gary P. Nabh, 2019. "Agrivoltaics provide mutual benefits across the food–energy–water nexus in drylands," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 2(9), pages 848-855, September.
    15. Gary Clyde Hufbauer & Jeffrey J. Schott & Cathleen Cimino & Martin Vieiro & Erika Wada, 2013. "Local Content Requirements: A Global Problem," Peterson Institute Press: All Books, Peterson Institute for International Economics, number 6802, April.
    16. Thorvaldur Gylfason, 2006. "Natural Resources and Economic Growth: From Dependence to Diversification," Springer Books, in: Harry G. Broadman & Tiiu Paas & Paul J.J. Welfens (ed.), Economic Liberalization and Integration Policy, pages 201-231, Springer.
    17. Matthias Busse & Steffen Gröning, 2013. "The resource curse revisited: governance and natural resources," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 154(1), pages 1-20, January.
    18. repec:bla:devpol:v:25:y:2007:i:5:p:575-598 is not listed on IDEAS
    19. Maxwell, Simon & Fernando, Adrian, 1989. "Cash crops in developing countries: The issues, the facts, the policies," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 17(11), pages 1677-1708, November.
    20. Vakulchuk, Roman & Overland, Indra & Scholten, Daniel, 2020. "Renewable energy and geopolitics: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    21. Nancy Birdsall, 2007. "Do No Harm: Aid, Weak Institutions, and the Missing Middle in Africa," Working Papers 113, Center for Global Development.
    22. Trommsdorff, Max & Kang, Jinsuk & Reise, Christian & Schindele, Stephan & Bopp, Georg & Ehmann, Andrea & Weselek, Axel & Högy, Petra & Obergfell, Tabea, 2021. "Combining food and energy production: Design of an agrivoltaic system applied in arable and vegetable farming in Germany," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    23. Sachs, Jeffrey D. & Warner, Andrew M., 2001. "The curse of natural resources," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 45(4-6), pages 827-838, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hwang, Young Kyu & Díez, Ángeles Sánchez & Inglesi-Lotz, Roula, 2024. "The effects of critical mineral endowments on green economic growth in Latin America," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    2. Sofien Tiba & Mohamed Frikha, 2020. "Africa Is Rich, Africans Are Poor! A Blessing or Curse: An Application of Cointegration Techniques," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 11(1), pages 114-139, March.
    3. Badeeb, Ramez Abubakr & Lean, Hooi Hooi & Clark, Jeremy, 2017. "The evolution of the natural resource curse thesis: A critical literature survey," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 123-134.
    4. Alssadek, Marwan & Benhin, James, 2023. "Natural resource curse: A literature survey and comparative assessment of regional groupings of oil-rich countries," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    5. Lotfalipour, Mohammad Reza & sargolzaie, Ali & Salehnia, Narges, 2022. "Natural resources: A curse on welfare?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    6. Moradbeigi, Maryam & Law, Siong Hook, 2017. "The role of financial development in the oil-growth nexus," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 164-172.
    7. Tahar, Moez Ben & Slimane, Sarra Ben & Ali Houfi, Mohamed, 2021. "Commodity prices and economic growth in commodity-dependent countries: New evidence from nonlinear and asymmetric analysis," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    8. Ali, Adnan & Ramakrishnan, Suresh & Faisal,, 2022. "Financial development and natural resources. Is there a stock market resource curse?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    9. Ruba A. Aljarallah & Andrew Angus, 2020. "Dilemma of Natural Resource Abundance: A Case Study of Kuwait," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(1), pages 21582440198, January.
    10. Mignamissi, Dieudonné & Malah Kuete, Yselle Flora, 2021. "Resource rents and happiness on a global perspective: The resource curse revisited," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    11. Valentine, Soumtang Bime & Itchoko Motande, Mondjeli Mwa Ndjokou & Salim Ahmed, Vessah Mbouombouo, 2024. "Revisiting natural resources and economic complexity nexus: Does financial development matter in developing countries?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    12. Sharma, Chandan & Paramati, Sudharshan Reddy, 2022. "Resource curse versus resource blessing: New evidence from resource capital data," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    13. Yilanci, Veli & Aslan, Murat & Ozgur, Onder, 2021. "Disaggregated analysis of the curse of natural resources in most natural resource-abundant countries," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    14. Hilmawan, Rian & Clark, Jeremy, 2021. "Resource dependence and the causes of local economic growth: An empirical investigation," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 65(03), January.
    15. Boniface Ngah Epo & Dief Reagen Nochi Faha, 2020. "Natural Resources, Institutional Quality, and Economic Growth: an African Tale," Post-Print halshs-02157588, HAL.
    16. Ramez Abubakr Badeeb & Jeremy Clark & Abey P. Philip, 2021. "The Nonlinear Effects of Oil Rent Dependence on Malaysian Manufacturing: Implications from Structural Change using a Markov-Regime Switching Model," Working Papers in Economics 21/11, University of Canterbury, Department of Economics and Finance.
    17. Eregha, P.B. & Mesagan, Ekundayo Peter, 2016. "Oil resource abundance, institutions and growth: Evidence from oil producing African countries," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 38(3), pages 603-619.
    18. Boire, Sidiki & Nell, Kevin S., 2021. "The enclave hypothesis and Dutch disease effect: A critical appraisal of Mali's gold mining industry," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    19. Havranek, Tomas & Horvath, Roman & Zeynalov, Ayaz, 2016. "Natural Resources and Economic Growth: A Meta-Analysis," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 134-151.
    20. Tiba, Sofien & Frikha, Mohamed, 2019. "The controversy of the resource curse and the environment in the SDGs background: The African context," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 437-452.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:192:y:2024:i:c:s1364032123010687. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600126/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.