Morocco and Germany have agreed to form a climate and energy alliance, with Berlin supporting renewable energy expansion and hydrogen production in Morocco.
According to Reuters, Germany aims to increase its reliance on hydrogen as a clean energy source to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, domestic renewable energy production won't be enough to meet their needs, requiring them to import up to 70% of their hydrogen in the future.
«Morocco has the best conditions for the energy transition and the production of green hydrogen. Germany wants to import hydrogen», Development Minister Svenja Schulze, who signed the alliance declaration with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita in Berlin, said in a statement.
«We want this partnership to be beneficial for both sides. Morocco can develop its clean energy sector and participate in the growing market for hydrogen technologies», she added.
Germany has supported «electricity trading cooperation between Morocco and the European Union and the participation of German technology companies and suppliers to advance the hydrogen economy there», Economy Ministry State Secretary Stefan Wenzel told Reuters.
Moreover, Morocco's solar thermal power plant in Ouarzazate was built with Germany's support, Schulze said. Germany is also helping Morocco build its first green hydrogen pilot plant. The latter will have a production of 10,000 tonnes of hydrogen per year, to produce 50,000 tonnes of green steel, the ministry added.
The agreement did not specify a timeframe for when hydrogen production and export to Germany will begin, or the logistics involved.