Germany and Morocco cooperate on green hydrogen and renewable energy sources

Germany and Morocco form joint alliance on climate and energy issues.

According to a press release from the German Ministry of Development (BMZ), the aim of the new partnership is to strengthen cooperation in the areas of climate change adaptation, the expansion of renewable energy sources and the production of green hydrogen.

“Thanks to its geographical location on the windy Atlantic and proximity to the desert, Morocco has excellent conditions for generating electricity from wind and solar energy, which will allow it to meet the needs of its own economy and, in the long term, also start exporting green hydrogen to Germany,” the release reads.

The two nations have previously collaborated on renewable energy, as the world’s largest solar power plant was built in Ouarzazate in southern Morocco, with the help of BMZ, according to the release. The plant supplies electricity to about 1.3 million people.

BMZ said the next step for Morocco is to start producing green hydrogen, since the country unveiled a hydrogen strategy two years ago. Solar power plants and wind farms enable mass implementation and sustainable production of green hydrogen on an industrial scale and the development of green economic sectors, the agency noted.

Germany is involved in the construction of the first reference green hydrogen production facility in Morocco, which is scheduled to be completed in the coming years. The plant will produce around 10,000 tons of hydrogen per year, enough to produce 50,000 tons of green steel. It is also intended to serve as a reference project for the viability of green hydrogen production in Africa and strengthen private investors’ confidence in Morocco as a location, BMZ said.

“The new green hydrogen economy must be fair – different than the fossil fuel economy has ever been. That is why we are working on partnerships that benefit both sides,” said German Federal Development Minister Svenja Schulze.

“Morocco has the best conditions for the energy transition and the production of green hydrogen. Germany wants to import hydrogen. But we want to do this fairly and in partnership, namely in such a way that Morocco can also accelerate its energy transition and obtain a fair share of the value chains of the future. This new alliance is an encouraging sign of fair and respectful cooperation,” Schulze added.

“Morocco and Germany are regional pioneers in climate protection. Both countries are working to reduce the use of coal-fired power and expand renewable energy sources,” said Stefan Wenzel, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection. “Morocco is therefore one of the first countries with which the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection has been implementing a very fruitful energy partnership for over ten years.”

“Morocco has enormous potential in renewable energy and green hydrogen. Due to our geographical proximity, we also support cooperation in electricity trade between Morocco and the EU (European Union). We also want to support the development of a hydrogen economy for the benefit of both sides and politically support the participation of German technology companies and suppliers. In addition, we want to cooperate even more closely in the field of skilled workers,” Wenzel said.

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