Many North African countries, including Egypt, Algeria and Morocco, are leading a veritable scramble for green hydrogen.
The battle has been exacerbated in the current context where several European countries are trying to do without Russian gas because of the Ukrainian conflict.
Engaged in a policy of diversification of their energy supply sources and in particular to do without Russian gas, European countries like Germany are multiplying contacts. For its part, Berlin has made it clear that it is unable to reduce its energy consumption by 15%, as recommended by the European Union. To meet its energy needs, Germany is scouring Africa for energy.
After a tour of the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Senegal and Algeria where it was a question of gas, Germany wants to import green hydrogen produced in Egypt. The German chancellor recognizes that electricity and hydrogen are fundamental for the transformation of industry in countries like his. And countries like Egypt, which rely on renewable energy, especially wind and solar, could be of great help to Berlin.
It is not only Egypt that has entered this race to green hydrogen, Morocco and Algeria have been invited in this phase of conquering the European market for renewable energy. Algeria is working on “the development of a national strategy for the development of hydrogen, including green hydrogen”, had announced President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. The country says it is better placed to ensure the supply of Europe in green hydrogen and claims to be able to meet up to 40% of European demand.
The Power-to-X world summit, held last June in Marrakech, was a great opportunity for Morocco to convince more about its potential to provide more renewable energy to Europe, which seeks to bypass Russian gas. Rabat has ambitious goals and plans to capture up to 4% of global demand for green hydrogen. Morocco, it should be recalled, signed an agreement with Germany in June 2020 on the development of green hydrogen. Morocco has also concluded an agreement with Finland on the realization of investment in this direction.
