Morocco Plans First Green Hydrogen Plant with 100 MW Capacity

The Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (Masen) is multiplying efforts to go further in the development of renewable energies in Morocco. This project involves the realization of a hybrid photovoltaic/wind power plant that can power a green hydrogen plant with an electrolysis capacity of around 100 MW. It will be a first in Morocco and in Africa.

For this large-scale project, the agency intends to finalize the feasibility analysis in early 2021 before launching the pre-qualification and tender process that same year. The contract award will be announced in 2022 for commercial commissioning of the site between 2024-2025. This mega-project will be co-financed by the German Development Bank (KfW). Masen will recruit a qualified international technical advisor to support it in the implementation. The latter will be responsible for managing and overseeing the entire technical process from the feasibility study to the signing of the project agreements, as well as the pre-qualification phase, the call for proposals, the selection of bidders, the finalization, the signing of the main contracts and the financial closing.

For Masen, this project is part of its strategy to develop renewable energies in various sectors beyond electricity generation (hydrogen production). Its realization thus takes into account Morocco’s significant assets in terms of renewable energy potential, infrastructure, proximity to international consumers and the existence of a potential local market.

It should be noted that Morocco and Germany had signed an agreement in Berlin last June on the development of the green hydrogen sector. Two projects announced in the letter of intent will be implemented as part of the economic cooperation between the two countries. A national hydrogen commission was created in July and in the vision of ensuring the energy independence of the Kingdom and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reports Le Matin.