Green hydrogen is the energy of the future. Or at least that is how they see it in Morocco. The Kingdom is focusing its efforts on consolidating itself as the most efficient alternative in terms of renewable energies in the whole continent, and the first indicators are really good for the Alaouites. However, the idea is to keep moving forward and even break new ground to take its energy leadership one step further.

1. Consolidating the green hydrogen industry
2. A project with a lot of room for growth
3. Using the ports for decarbonisation

Consolidating the green hydrogen industry

Morocco believes in this energy source and considers it to be the right choice to make. There is no better proof of this than the new project in the hands of Aziz Akhannouch's government, driven especially by King Mohammed VI's eagerness to leave behind energy dependence on fossil fuels.

It is an initiative that aims to "store, supply and export green hydrogen and its derivatives in 4 ports". The Kingdom's intention is to use this hydrogen as an alternative fuel for ships, according to the communiqué issued last Monday by the Ministry of Equipment and Water and the Ministry of Transport and Logistics.

At the same event held in Rabat, the new study prepared by the Ministry of Energy Transition was presented and the support of the World Bank (WB) was announced. This report determines the feasibility of using carbon free fuels in the four proposed ports: Mohammedia, Jorf Lasfar, Tangier Med and Tan-Tan. All this is supervised by the WB itself, which has given the green light to the project.

A project with a lot of room for growth

One of the keys to the initiative Morocco intends to launch is the enormous margin for progress it has. But before doing so, it is hoped that a road map will be drawn up that will allow investment projects to be developed, and that they can find internal and external financing.

Nizar Baraka, Morocco's Minister of Equipment and Water, clarified that "the aim of the study is to examine the technical and economic options for producing green energy to be used to supply ships with carbon-free fuel". He also pointed out that the intention is to be able to export it, although he made it clear that this is still a long way off and is an objective "for the future".

Rabat is confident that this plan will consecrate the Alaoui kingdom as one of the main, if not the main, promoter of green energies in the entire region. To do so, moreover, using its ports is a great opportunity for them. It should not be forgotten that Morocco has more than 3,500 kilometres of sea front, with 43 ports, 14 of which are used for foreign trade.

Using the ports for decarbonisation

96% of Morocco's foreign trade is carried out through ports, Tangier Med being the most prominent, leader not only in the Kingdom, but in the whole continent. Minister Baraka assured that they want to take advantage of this large volume of business to promote the objective of decarbonisation, reducing emissions thanks, precisely, to the use of carbon-free fuel.

However, Rabat does not hide the fact that this is a goal that is as ambitious as it is complicated. Finding a competitive offer that can match current prices is no easy task, although its position as the sixth country with the greatest potential in the production of green hydrogen and derivatives, according to the World Energy Council, is a great asset for the Moroccans.

In fact, predictions for 2030 indicate that Morocco could be responsible for the production of up to 4% of world demand. Hence other important figures such as Mohamed Ohamid, Director of Renewable Energies at the Ministry of Energy Transition, insists on paying "special attention to the role of the ports as facilitators of the development of green fuels at a global level".