In this study, achievements, potentials and perspectives for renewable energy sources in the North African upper zone have been investigated. The renewable sources of energy, mainly solar, wind, biomass and geothermal, have been identified. Renewable energies were shown to have a promising future in the context of a connected network with the European Union, despite divergences of individual national targets and policies. Assuming a competitive, regional and stable energy framework in the region, a probabilistic optimization scheme has been proposed for a 2025 horizon within a Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) framework. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.