A collaboration between The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Environment (MEME) of the Kingdom of Morocco has been made to advance renewable energy and stimulate the energy transition.
Morocco and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) agreed to work together to further hydrogen development on June 14, 2021, particularly that Morocco has proven its potential to be a green hydrogen producer and exporter.
Under the agreement signed by Aziz Rabbah, Morocco’s Minister of Energy, Mines, and the Environment, and IRENA’s Director-General Francesco La Camera, the two parties will actively pursue a deeper understanding of green hydrogen renewable energy, develop technology, provide public-private models of cooperation in the hydrogen space, and begin projects that promote renewable energy investments nationally and regionally.
Morocco and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) work together to further hydrogen development.
“Morocco has shown great leadership in advancing the deployment of green, renewable energy to meet growing energy demand while creating new industrial opportunities across the country,” said IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera.
“It is only natural that this leadership be extended to the pursuit of green hydrogen, which may play a critical role in global decarbonization ambitions.” “The country has revised upwards its renewable energy ambition with a decision to increase the share of total installed capacity to more than 52% by 2030 — exceeding the country’s objective announced at COP21 in Paris,” IRENA said.
Morocco’s Minister of Energy, Mr. Aziz Rabbah said, “Morocco has played an important role in global renewable energy cooperation through IRENA since the Agency’s formation, and we will continue to promote and encourage the uptake of renewables in the context of climate change and sustainable development at a regional and an international level.”
Minister. Rabbah continued, “The signing of this agreement is an illustration of the excellent cooperation between Morocco and IRENA and we will continue to strengthen our joint efforts aimed at accelerating the transition.”
Morocco and the European Commission co-facilitated IRENA’s Collaborative Framework on Green Hydrogen in May to discuss challenges in developing the infrastructure, technology, and certification needed for a global green hydrogen economy and trade.
Morocco had almost 3.5 GW of installed renewable energy capacity at the end of 2020, according to the IRENA data. The North African country is planning to install a floating LNG import terminal to use more gas in the power sector.
At present, it has limited gas production of its own. Later in 2021, it will take ownership of a gas pipeline that runs through its territory, used now to send Algerian gas to Spain.