Morocco is beginning to produce green hydrogen and solidifying its commitment to alternative energy sources. This is evidenced by the construction of the nation’s first green hydrogen production plant, the fruit of a cooperative effort between the Mohamed VI Polytechnic University and the Institute for Research in Solar Energy and New Energies.
This micro-pilot system seeks to manufacture ammonia, methane, and green fuels using solar photovoltaic panels and an electrolyzer in addition to carbon-free hydrogen and other products. The initiative is a component of “Power-to-X,” a sustainable program in Morocco for the manufacture of synthetic fuels and long-term energy storage that aims to advance sustainable transportation throughout the nation.
In addition to being a tool for research and innovation, this micro pilot, specifically the National Hydrogen Commission and the Green H2 Morocco Cluster, “will play a vital role in the training and skills development of IRESEN and UM6P employees and their partners in the hydrogen ecosystem in Morocco.” The initiative hopes to do this by enticing managers, technicians, engineers, and students from both the public and commercial sectors to invest in and conduct research.
Morocco is pushing itself as a viable nation to create green hydrogen at a cheap cost and satisfy Europe’s energy needs as the infrastructure for renewable energy is being improved. In order to promote energy security in Europe, particularly in the face of winter, the crises brought on by the Russian-Ukrainian war and Western sanctions on Russian gas are prompting the continent to explore energy alternatives in nations like Morocco.
In a recent analysis, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) predicted that Morocco will have the third-lowest cost of producing green hydrogen in 2050. Given that the Alawi kingdom is in third place after China and Chile in the ranking of renewable energy sources, this supposition is extremely likely.
Morocco’s efforts to improve its capacity in renewable energies as well as the provision of drinking water through water desalination support IRENA’s predictions. This has already drawn investment from a number of foreign firms, including ACWA Power of Saudi Arabia.
In the upcoming years, the investor thought of as a top private developer in the field of seawater desalination has shown interest in extending its activities to Morocco. The CEO of the firm stated at the Future of Desalination Conference in Riyadh, “We see developing potential in Morocco and South Africa in the not too distant future.”
Morocco has already adopted a desalination program by constructing the Chtouka Aitbaha plant in Agadir in 2018, the largest desalination plant in Africa, in response to current climatic issues including water shortages. Morocco is still committed to building further desalination facilities at Casabanca, Safi, and Jorf Lasfar.
Morocco is anticipated to produce 80% of its energy mix from renewable sources by 2050, meeting the globally set goal of net zero emissions. These numbers support Morocco’s strategy to decrease its reliance on pricey, imported fossil fuels and move toward more dependable, sustainable renewable energy.
