Morocco and Portugal agrees to cooperate on green hydrogen

Morocco and Portugal have agreed on Tuesday to cooperate on the development of green hydrogen. During the signing ceremony, conducted through a videoconference, the two countries’ energy ministers Aziz Rabbah and Matos Fernandes emphasised the tremendous potential green hydrogen can offer to both countries.

The agreement will bring both countries closer and boost bilateral cooperation to prioritise their efforts for green hydrogen with the related decarbonisation strategies of the Paris Climate Agreement.

Both countries to establish a joint working group which will explore various opportunities, including a roadmap for hydrogen and ammonia and the development of a memorandum of understanding on green hydrogen.

Aziz Rabbah highlighted the government efforts to develop green hydrogen as he recalled the establishment of the National Hydrogen Commission in 2019, several R&D projects, and discussed a hydrogen production roadmap.

Morocco has an enormous potential for green hydrogen using its solar energy. A previous study by Morocco’s Economic, Social, and Environmental Council (CESE) estimated that Morocco could potentially satisfy its 96% of electricity demand by 2050 from renewable energy sources.

Matos Fernandes said that his country is committed to a strategic policy on green hydrogen and plans to organise an international conference on the clean energy on April 7. He invited Morocco for participation.

Historically, Morocco and Tunisia maintain a very close relationship with the EU members, and both countries lured investors to its renewable energy. Moreover, in the current circumstances, their importance has been boosted in the EU efforts for carbon neutrality. Morocco can undoubtedly help the EU in green hydrogen through its wind and solar energy resources.