Rabat – Morocco is poised to become a global leader in exporting green hydrogen, alongside Namibia and Chile, according to a publication by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), an intergovernmental organization supporting countries’ transition to renewable energy.
In a report titled “Geopolitics of the Energy Transformation The Hydrogen Factor,” IRENA lists Morocco, Chile, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and the United States as countries that can potentially emerge as global suppliers for clean hydrogen by 2050.
While currently not a hydrogen exporter, Morocco stands to gain significant geostrategic importance once on the global map of clean hydrogen exporters, according to IRENA experts.
Morocco shows great interest in developing hydrogen production nationally. The country established a National Hydrogen Commission in 2019 and issued a green hydrogen roadmap two years later.
The roadmap underscores the importance of green hydrogen as a key growth within the national economy. Morocco aims to supply the local market with 4 TWh (terawatt hours) and the international market with 10 TWh by 2030.
To reach the above-mentioned capacity, Morocco will have to invest in 6 GW new renewable infrastructure, supporting the creation of more than 15,000 direct and indirect jobs.
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The IRENA forecasts the list of future green hydrogen importers based on several criteria. By leveraging low-production costs and already-existing renewable energy production capacity, Morocco stands to attract significant investments in the green hydrogen sector, says the report.
The study also sheds light on technology as a significant drive in the race for hydrogen supremacy. Australia, Canada, and Saudi Arabia saw a substantial increase of technology patent ownership hydrogen-related, while Morocco joined the list of countries with less activity on the technology front between 2010 and 2020, according to the report.
Morocco also has the potential to leverage its renewable energy resources to support the growth of electricity-dependent sea trade. In 2019, the North African country saw the second-largest volume of maritime trade on the African continent.
As demand for sea trade soars amid population growth, Morocco stands to gain from the rising demand for electricity, hence raising demand for Morocco’s hydrogen market.
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