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Solar panels in Ouarzazate, Morocco: output, cost and payback
In Ouarzazate, each kWp of solar panels produces about 1,817 kWh a year. For an electricity bill of 500 MAD a month, a 2.5 kWp system (about 27,500 MAD) saves around 3,269 MAD a year and pays for itself in 9.2 years.
Calculate for my address in Ouarzazate →Solar output in Ouarzazate is 9% above the average of the 35 cities studied.
Payback by electricity bill
| ONEE bill | Consumption | Recommended size | Investment | Output | Year-1 savings | Payback | Net gain over 25 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 MAD/month | 288 kWh/month | 1.5 kWp (3 panels) | 16,500 MAD | 2,726 kWh/yr | 1,768 MAD | 10.3 years | 32,464 MAD |
| 500 MAD/month | 434 kWh/month | 2.5 kWp (5 panels) | 27,500 MAD | 4,544 kWh/yr | 3,269 MAD | 9.2 years | 63,774 MAD |
| 800 MAD/month | 631 kWh/month | 3.5 kWp (7 panels) | 38,500 MAD | 6,361 kWh/yr | 5,244 MAD | 7.9 years | 109,338 MAD |
| 1,200 MAD/month | 882 kWh/month | 4.5 kWp (9 panels) | 49,500 MAD | 8,179 kWh/yr | 7,463 MAD | 7.1 years | 162,207 MAD |
Your roof, its orientation and your quote change these figures. The simulator recalculates them for your exact address, with your actual roof area.
Month-by-month solar output in Ouarzazate
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 154 | 147 | 169 | 164 | 160 | 151 | 147 | 145 | 145 | 147 | 140 | 148 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a solar panel produce in Ouarzazate?
A well-oriented 500 Wp panel produces about 909 kWh a year in Ouarzazate, or 1,817 kWh per installed kWp (PVGIS, roof tilted 30° due south). Output ranges from 140 kWh per kWp in the weakest month to 169 kWh in the strongest.
How much does a home solar system cost in Ouarzazate?
For a home with a 500 MAD monthly bill, you need about 2.5 kWp, or 5 panels, for a budget of around 27,500 MAD at 11 MAD per watt-peak. The actual price depends on the installer, the equipment and the roof.
Is solar worth it in Ouarzazate?
For most households, yes: with a 500 MAD monthly bill, the system pays for itself in 9.2 years and returns about 63,774 MAD net over 25 years. The higher the bill, the faster the payback, because solar replaces the most expensive tranches of the ONEE tariff first.
Can you sell surplus solar power to the grid in Ouarzazate?
Morocco's self-generation law 82-21 allows surplus power to be fed into the grid, capped at 20% of yearly output. The residential buy-back tariff has not been published yet, so the figures on this page leave it out: they are conservative estimates.
Method and sources
- Output: PVGIS v5.2 (European Commission Joint Research Centre), at the city centre, rooftop panels tilted 30° due south, 14% system losses.
- Savings: ONEE low-voltage residential tariff by tranche (tax included). Solar replaces the most expensive kWh of the bill first. The share used on site depends on system size; no surplus sales.
- Sizing: a system covering about 80% of yearly consumption, rounded to half a kWp, with 500 Wp panels.
- Cost: 11 MAD per installed watt-peak (an assumption: use your installer's quote). Maintenance 1% a year, 0.5% yearly output loss, 2% yearly tariff rise, 25-year life.
Other cities
Same region: Errachidia (1,798 kWh/kWp)
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