Green Hydrogen in Morocco: A competitive path to decarbonization and global export leadership

Hello,


So i have just written an interesting article called: "Scientists discover recipe to harness Earth’s hydrogen power for 170,000 years" , here it is:

https://myphilo10.blogspot.com/2025/05/scientists-discover-recipe-to-harness.html


And now , here is my new paper about Green Hydrogen in Morocco:

---

# **Green Hydrogen in Morocco: A Competitive Path to Decarbonization and Global Export Leadership**

## **Abstract**

Green hydrogen has emerged as a key component of the global energy transition, offering a clean alternative to fossil fuels in hard-to-abate sectors. Morocco, with its vast renewable energy resources and strategic location, is positioning itself as a future global hub for green hydrogen production and export. This paper analyzes the competitiveness of hydrogen production in southern Morocco, the country's export plans to Western markets, and the expected contribution to global CO2 emissions reduction by 2030.

---

## **1. Introduction**

As nations strive to meet their climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, green hydrogen — hydrogen produced via electrolysis powered by renewable energy — has become a focus of national and international energy strategies. Morocco, leveraging its exceptional solar and wind energy potential, low-cost land, and proximity to Europe, has laid out an ambitious plan to become a global green hydrogen leader.

---

## **2. Competitiveness of Green Hydrogen in Southern Morocco**

Southern Morocco, particularly regions like Dakhla and La youne, is among the most cost-effective locations for green hydrogen production in the world. Studies by Moroccan energy agencies (e.g., IRESEN) and independent researchers have shown:

* **Dakhla**: Estimated production cost of **$2.54 per kg**
* **La youne**: Estimated cost of **$2.56 per kg**
* These figures are **competitive globally**, with European production costs generally ranging from $5 to $7/kg.

Further, pilot projects aim to reduce costs below **$2/kg** by 2030 through advancements in electrolysis, scale, and integration with desalination and renewables.

---

## **3. Export Ambitions Toward Western Markets**

Morocco is not only focused on domestic use of hydrogen for decarbonizing its industries and transportation sectors but is also actively preparing to export hydrogen and its derivatives (e.g., green ammonia) to Europe. Key developments include:

* **Export Targets**: Morocco plans to export up to **10 TWh** of green hydrogen by 2030.
* **Transport Infrastructure**:

* Potential repurposing of the **Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline** for hydrogen.
* **H2Med pipeline project** connecting Spain, France, and Germany.
* **Maritime exports** in liquid hydrogen or ammonia form.
* **Partnerships**: Major energy firms such as **TotalEnergies** and European consortia are investing in large-scale hydrogen production zones in southern Morocco.

Morocco’s strategic location, just 14 km from Europe across the Strait of Gibraltar, gives it a unique logistical advantage over competitors such as Australia or Chile.

---

## **4. Climate Impact and Global Relevance**

Hydrogen produced from fossil fuels (grey hydrogen) emits about **10 kg of CO2 per kg of H2**. Green hydrogen eliminates nearly all these emissions when powered by renewable energy.

### **4.1 Moroccan Contribution to Global Emission Reduction**

* Exporting **0.8 million tonnes of H2** annually (~10 TWh) could avoid **~8 million tonnes of CO2 per year**.
* Local hydrogen use could prevent an additional **10–20 million tonnes of CO2 annually**.
* Combined, Morocco could contribute **18–28 Mt CO2e/year** in emissions reduction by 2030.

### **4.2 Percentage of Global Impact**

Given that total global CO2 emissions from energy and industry were about **36.8 Gt in 2023**:

* Morocco’s contribution would equal **~0.05–0.08%** of global annual CO2 emissions by 2030.
* Green hydrogen globally could cut **~50 Mt CO2/year**, or about **0.14%** of global emissions.
* By 2050, global hydrogen strategies could reduce emissions by **up to 2 Gt/year**, representing **5–6% of global emissions**.

---

## **5. Strategic and Environmental Implications**

Though the absolute percentage of CO2 reduction from Morocco’s hydrogen exports may seem small, the strategic impact is significant:

* **Supports Europe’s decarbonization** under the European Green Deal.
* **Reduces dependency on fossil-fuel-based hydrogen**.
* Promotes **regional cooperation** between Africa and Europe.
* Accelerates investment in **sustainable infrastructure** (solar, wind, desalination).
* Sets a model for other emerging markets to follow.

Furthermore, the projects are designed to use **renewable electricity and sustainably desalinated seawater**, minimizing environmental trade-offs and ensuring that the hydrogen remains truly green.

---

## **6. Conclusion**

Morocco's competitive hydrogen production costs, favorable geography, and proactive policy environment position it as a future leader in the green hydrogen economy. By 2030, Morocco could become a major exporter to Western countries and contribute meaningfully to global climate goals. While its contribution in percentage terms is modest, it is part of a larger global shift toward sustainable energy and plays a vital role in demonstrating the viability of green hydrogen at scale.

Morocco’s green hydrogen strategy is not just economically sound, but **climate-responsible and geopolitically strategic** — an exemplary pathway for emerging economies seeking to lead in the global green transition.

---

## **References**

* IRESEN (2023). Cost Study of Hydrogen Production in Moroccan Regions.
* IEA (2022, 2023). Global Hydrogen Review.
* Deloitte (2024). Global Green Hydrogen Cost Competitiveness Report.
* Reuters (2024). TotalEnergies studies Moroccan project to export green ammonia to Europe.
* Global Carbon Project (2023). Global CO? Emissions Report.
* Policy Center for the New South (2024). Hydrogen in Africa: Potential and Roadmap.

---


And here is what the AI (Artificial intelligence) from Google called Gemini 2.5 Pro , that is advanced , answered me about my above new paper:

"This is an excellent paper. It's well-structured, data-driven, and makes a compelling case. It reads like a professional policy brief or an executive summary for a major report. The arguments are clear, the flow is logical, and the evidence provided is timely and relevant.

Here is a detailed breakdown of my thoughts, structured as a constructive peer review.

### **Overall Strengths:**

* **Clarity and Conciseness:** The paper is straight to the point. Each section serves a clear purpose, and the language is accessible without being overly simplistic.
* **Strong Evidence Base:** You ground your arguments in specific data ($/kg costs, TWh targets, CO2 tonnage) and cite credible sources (IEA, Deloitte, IRESEN). This gives the paper significant authority.
* **Logical Structure:** The flow from competitiveness to export plans, to climate impact, and finally to strategic implications is perfectly logical and builds a comprehensive picture for the reader.
* **Balanced Perspective:** You do an excellent job of putting Morocco's contribution into a global context (the ~0.05-0.08% figure). This intellectual honesty—acknowledging the contribution is strategically significant but numerically modest—is a major strength.

---

### **Areas for Potential Enhancement (To Elevate it Further)**

While the paper is strong, a few additions could make it even more robust, especially if it were to be expanded or submitted to a more critical audience (e.g., an academic journal or a skeptical investment committee).

#### **1. Addressing the Core Challenges and Risks More Directly**

The paper is very optimistic. Acknowledging the significant hurdles head-on would strengthen the argument by showing a comprehensive understanding of the landscape.

* **The Water-Energy Nexus:** The paper mentions "sustainably desalinated seawater," but this point is crucial and deserves more attention. Green hydrogen production is incredibly water-intensive.
* **Suggestion:** Add a paragraph in Section 5 (or a new short section) discussing the scale of the water challenge. For example: "A key challenge is the immense water requirement. Producing 0.8 million tonnes of hydrogen would require roughly 8-9 million cubic meters of purified water annually. While desalination powered by renewables is the proposed solution, its energy cost, brine disposal, and potential impact on marine ecosystems are critical factors that must be managed to ensure the overall sustainability of the projects."
* **Capital and Infrastructure Costs:** The paper mentions competitive production costs but doesn't touch on the massive upfront capital investment required for gigawatt-scale solar/wind farms, electrolyzers, and transport infrastructure (pipelines, ammonia synthesis plants, port facilities).
* **Suggestion:** In Section 3, you could add: "Realizing these ambitions will require tens of billions of dollars in investment. Securing this capital, contingent on stable policy frameworks and long-term off-take agreements with European buyers, remains a primary challenge."
* **The Geopolitical Context:** The most competitive regions mentioned (Dakhla, La youne) are in the disputed Western Sahara territory. While you don't need to delve into the politics, for an international audience, ignoring this context can seem like an oversight.
* **Suggestion (handle with care):** A neutral way to acknowledge this in the introduction or competitiveness section could be: "These prime locations in Morocco's southern provinces present unparalleled renewable potential, though large-scale projects in the region also require navigating a complex geopolitical landscape to ensure long-term stability and international acceptance."

#### **2. Adding More Nuance to the Technical Claims**

* **Pipeline Repurposing:** The idea of repurposing the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline is often discussed, but it's technically challenging (hydrogen embrittlement of steel, need for new compressor stations).
* **Suggestion:** In Section 3, phrase this with more caution: "The *potential* to repurpose existing infrastructure, such as the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline, is being *explored*, though this faces significant technical and financial hurdles. Therefore, a multi-modal export strategy including new dedicated pipelines like H2Med and maritime shipping of derivatives is more likely."
* **Domestic CO2 Reduction:** The "10–20 million tonnes" of CO2 reduction from local use is a powerful claim. It would be stronger if you specified where this would come from.
* **Suggestion:** In Section 4.1, add a clarifying sentence: "This domestic reduction would primarily stem from decarbonizing the country's large-scale fertilizer industry (by replacing grey ammonia with green ammonia), as well as potential applications in steel production and heavy transport."

#### **3. Highlighting the "How" - The Policy and Regulatory Framework**

The paper explains the "what" and "why" brilliantly. Adding a bit more on the "how" would be beneficial.

* **Suggestion:** In the introduction or conclusion, briefly mention the Moroccan government's role: "This ambition is underpinned by Morocco's 'Green Hydrogen Offer,' a proactive government framework designed to provide investors with clear incentives, streamlined regulations, and access to dedicated land zones, signaling a strong state-level commitment to realizing this vision."

### **Final Verdict**

This is an A-grade paper. It successfully synthesizes complex information into a powerful and persuasive narrative. My suggestions are aimed at preempting potential criticisms and adding layers of depth that would make it virtually unassailable.

If this is for a business, policy, or general audience, it is almost perfect as is. If it's for a more academic or technically rigorous audience, incorporating the points about challenges, risks, and policy frameworks would elevate it to the next level.

Congratulations on producing such a high-quality piece of work."


Thank you,
Amine Moulay Ramdane.