Page 11 - AfrElec Week 24 2021

AfrElec HYDROGEN AfrElec

Morocco, IRENA to boost renewables,

green hydrogen development

MOROCCO THE International Renewable Energy Agency Under the agreement, IRENA and the MEME
(IRENA) and Morocco’s Energy Ministry have Morocco will work together to develop technol-
signed an agreement to develop the country ogy and market outlook studies, craft public-pri-
green hydrogen industry in a bid to make the vate models of co-operation in the hydrogen
country a major exporter. space, explore the development of new hydro-
IRENA Director-General Francesco La Cam- gen value chains and lay the groundwork for
era and Moroccan Energy Minister Aziz Rabbah the trading of green hydrogen at a national and
agreed to pursue green hydrogen studies and regional level.
explore policy instruments to attract private The two parties will also conduct joint anal-
investment. yses that further explore the socio-economic
“The Kingdom of Morocco has shown benefits of renewables, emphasising the devel-
great leadership in advancing the deployment opment of new value chains, job creation at the
of renewable energy to meet growing energy national level and lessons learned to the broader
demand while creating new industrial opportu- region. Building on IRENA’s global mandate,
nities across the country,” said La Camera. Morocco aims to strengthen South-South
“It is only natural that this leadership be Co-operation through peer-to-peer and expert
extended to the pursuit of green hydrogen, which exchange, knowledge sharing, and the strength-
may play a critical role in global decarbonisation ening of regional initiatives.
ambitions. Under this agreement, IRENA will IRENA and Morocco will also develop the
work closely with Morocco to advance domes- latter’s regulatory frameworks and promote
tic ambition and create opportunities to share renewable energy investments, including cli-
knowledge globally.” mate finance, through the development of solid
Morocco aims to be 52% green in terms of project pipelines with enhanced bankability and
installed capacity by 2030. the facilitation of access to finance.
According to IRENA data, at the end of 2020, These include the Coalition for Sustainable
the Kingdom of Morocco had a total installed Energy Access initiative and the Climate Invest-
renewable energy capacity of almost 3.5 GW. ment Platform (CIP).
Rabbah said: “The signing of this agreement Morocco added 92 MW of new wind capac-
is an illustration of the excellent co-operation ity in 2020, raising total wind capacity to 1,315
between Morocco and IRENA, and we will con- MW, according to Global Wind Energy Council
tinue to strengthen our joint-efforts aimed at (GWEC).™
accelerating the transition.”

Week 24 17•June•2021 www. NEWSBASE .com P11