Officials highlight Morocco’s green hydrogen potential during international energy summit in Marrakech

The second edition of the "World Power-to-X Summit" (PTX22) launched this Wednesday in Marrakech, with the participation of a host of policy makers, industrialists, and experts from over 30 countries.

Organized by the Institute of Research in Solar Energy and New Energies (IRESEN), in partnership with the University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P), this event, which will continue until June 24, aims to discuss innovative strategies in the field of green hydrogen and seal partnerships for a new era of clean energy.

In a speech delivered by video conference, the Moroccan Minister of Energy said that "Morocco has multiple assets to become a key player in the Power-To-X economy, in addition to our undeniable competitive advantage in terms of geography, renewable resources."

Benali highlighted Morocco's green hydrogen capacities, as being one of the lowest costs of kwh produced in the world, calling it an "undeniable competitive advantage," and that to truly evolve innovation pertaining to its production, exploitation, and commercialization, "Morocco is encouraging the development of various new sectors in different regions of the Kingdom."

In this sense, the Minister recalled that Morocco has already emerged over the past ten years as a leading country in the field of the energy transition, noting that a massive development of a green hydrogen economy requires a reduction in the cost of electrolysis facilities, increased investment in R&D, industrialization of derivatives and accelerated capacity building in this field.

For his part, the acting Director-General of IRESEN, Samir Rachidi, said that hydrogen is a key link in the energy transition and an energy sector with great potential, which is part of both economic development and sustainable development issues.

Rachidi, also Secretary-General of the Green H2 Cluster, stressed that Morocco has many assets to develop a dynamic hydrogen industry, noting that the potential turnover of this industry and its export is estimated at hundreds of billions of dollars in the next 15 years.

"This is clearly a great opportunity for Morocco, which has been recognized among the 6 countries with the highest potential at the global level," he added, noting that the production of green hydrogen in Morocco, "in addition to promoting our economic growth, will contribute to the decarbonization of our industry and allow us to co-finance our transition and our energy security."