Geothermal Country Update Report of Morocco (2010-2015)

Abstract

The Moroccan subsoil has geothermal energy potential still unexploited, especially in northeastern part where the estimated installed capacity is around 5 MW. Geothermal data so far obtained, especially from deep exploration oil wells, highlight a heat flux increasing northeastward (80–140 mW/m2) in the eastern Rif, northeastern Morocco, Alboran sea, southeastern Spain and northwestern Algeria. The highest value for geothermal gradient in Morocco is found in the northeastern part where it can reach 50 °C.km-1. The new temperature data, recently recorded in water borehole located in the Berkane and Oujda areas revealed an average geothermal gradient of more than 120ºC/km at depths greater than 300 m. Such a high geothermal gradient, exceeding by far the ones already determined for northeastern Morocco, could act as a stimulus to programs aimed at the geothermal exploitation of high temperature aquifers limited until now to drinkable water distribution or to balneology.