Morocco is rapidly solidifying its position as a global leader in green hydrogen production, with recent developments marking a significant leap forward. Spanish energy powerhouses Acciona and Moeve (formerly Cepsa) have secured crucial preliminary land reservation agreements from the Moroccan government, paving the way for the development of large-scale green hydrogen projects in the kingdom’s southern regions.
Morocco’s Strategic Vision for Green Hydrogen
These landmark agreements, formally received on February 5th during a high-level meeting in Rabat chaired by Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch, represent an essential milestone in Morocco’s ambitious green energy rollout. The nation has earmarked an astounding one million hectares to support its burgeoning hydrogen sector, underscoring a long-term strategy aimed at achieving energy sovereignty, driving industrial transformation, and bolstering export capacity.
Morocco’s strategic allocation of land and resources positions it to meet over 4% of global hydrogen demand, leveraging its abundant solar and wind resources into a powerful strategic advantage.
Moeve and Taqa Morocco Forge Green Ammonia Complex
One of the key initiatives involves Moeve, which has partnered with Taqa Morocco, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s TAQA Group. Together, they plan to develop a large-scale green ammonia and industrial fuel complex at the strategically important Jorf Lasfar Port. Under this synergistic arrangement, Taqa Morocco will supply renewable electricity from its assets in southern Morocco, while Moeve will spearhead the production and commercialization of e-fuels.
Maarten Wetselaar, CEO of Moeve, emphasized the significance of this collaboration: “This agreement represents an important step toward bringing large-scale green molecule production to Morocco. By combining our experience in green fuels with Taqa Morocco’s renewable capabilities, we are laying the foundations for a project that accelerates the decarbonization of industry and heavy transport.”
Echoing this sentiment, Taqa Morocco CEO Abdelmajid Iraqi Houssaini added that the partnership “will contribute to the decarbonization of Taqa Morocco’s portfolio and support green mobility through the development of hydrogen-derived products critical for industrial and transport applications.”
ORNX Consortium’s Renewable Ammonia Ambitions
Separately, the ORNX consortium has also secured a pivotal land reservation in Laayoune. This consortium brings together Acciona, through its joint venture Acciona Nordex Green Hydrogen, German turbine manufacturer Nordex, and US-based firm Ortus. Their project focuses on renewable ammonia production, with plans to integrate more than two gigawatts of renewable capacity to power a 900-megawatt electrolysis unit.
Reports from Asharq Business on February 6th indicate that this project alone carries an estimated investment of $4.5 billion. The ORNX consortium envisions a broader strategy encompassing three integrated hydrogen projects across Laayoune, Boujdour, and Dakhla, with a target annual production of 100,000 tons of low-cost hydrogen, which will then be converted into approximately 560,000 tons of green ammonia.
“Offre Maroc”: A National Framework for Global Leadership
Both the Moeve-Taqa Morocco and ORNX initiatives fall under Morocco’s ambitious “Offre Maroc” framework. This national program is meticulously designed to establish the kingdom as a premier global hydrogen hub, strategically positioned to serve both African and European markets. The Moroccan government has allocated a substantial MAD 319 billion (approximately $31.9 billion) for hydrogen development under this framework.
From nearly 40 proposals submitted by investors representing 17 countries, five consortia have been preselected to deliver six flagship projects. These include Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power, Morocco’s Nareva, the ORNX consortium, the TAQA-Moeve consortium, and a Chinese-led group comprising United Energy Group (UEG) and China Three Gorges. While TotalEnergies and Engie are engaged in parallel cooperation tracks with Morocco on hydrogen and renewable energy, they are not part of this initial five-consortium selection.
Paving the Way for a Sustainable Future
The operational launch of these structural hydrogen projects in Morocco’s southern regions underscores the nation’s unwavering commitment to a sustainable energy future. By transforming its abundant geographical advantages – sun and wind – into long-term strategic leverage, Morocco is not just investing in green hydrogen; it is charting a course for energy independence, industrial innovation, and a significant role in the global energy transition.
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