Morocco receives 40 green hydrogen project proposals

In a significant move towards sustainable energy, the steering committee for Morocco’s Green Hydrogen Initiative, known as “l’Offre Maroc,” held a meeting to discuss the criteria for projects after nearly 40 bids were submitted on a platform run by the Moroccan agency for sustainable energy MASEN.

The committee emphasized transparency and competitiveness for bids across the country, head of the government Aziz Akhannouch, who chaired the meeting, said in a statement.

Morocco expects to sign the first preliminary contracts to produce green hydrogen in the country in the fourth quarter this year.

Some 100 investors have expressed interest in Morocco’s green hydrogen potential, said Mohcen Jazouli, minister in charge of investment in March.

Investors will have to submit their proposals to the sustainable energy agency before bids are examined by an investment committee and submitted to the approval of the Prime Minister, he said.

Investors will be benefiting from generous sun and wind to produce renewables as well as land parcels ranging from 10,000 hectares to 30,000 in addition to tax exemptions, he said.

“Investments would cost tens of billions of dollars,” said Jazouli, adding that a feasibility study could cost the investor up to 50 million dollars.

Morocco seeks value and jobs, he said, noting the potential of Morocco’s hydrogen offer to bolster electricity production in the country.

Through its offer, unveiled three days ago, Morocco seeks integrated projects of scale, he said.

While the offtake will be used in domestic industries, Morocco is also aspiring to satisfy some of the demand in Europe, where the European Commission (EC) has developed a plan to import 10 million tons of renewable hydrogen by 2030, for use in heavy industry and transport sectors that are traditionally reliant on coal, natural gas, and oil.