TotalEnergies: Green Hydrogen and 1GW Renewables in Morocco
Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe and could be the fuel of a greener future, but it must be produced using renewable energies.
When used as a fuel it produces only water vapour, potentially eliminating carbon emissions.
To fully unlock hydrogen’s potential, green hydrogen needs to be developed quickly.
TotalEnergies has partnered with EREN Groupe, A.P. Møller Capital and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) to develop a large-scale renewables and green hydrogen project in Morocco.
The Chbika project will build 1GW of onshore solar and wind facilities for the production of green hydrogen.
This hydrogen will be produced through the electrolysis of desalinated seawater, producing nearly 200,000 tonnes of green ammonia per year.
The government of the Kingdom of Morocco and TE H2, along with its partners, have signed a Preliminary Contract for Land Reservation for the project.
Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, says: “I would like to thank the Moroccan authorities for awarding the Chbika project and for the trust they have shown in our subsidiary TE H2 and our partners.
“It demonstrates our commitment to developing green hydrogen initiatives that support the country’s energy transition, industrialisation and job creation.
“The Kingdom has the potential to supply affordable and clean energy to Europe while serving its own decarbonised industrial development.
“Our consortium is strong, our overall Moroccan plan is very ambitious and I look forward to reinforcing further our collaboration with local authorities and stakeholders and pursuing the work on this promising project.”
What is TE H2?
TE H2 is a joint venture between TotalEnergies and EREN Groupe that is specialised in developing large-scale green hydrogen projects.
The venture says it aims to provide “affordable, sustainable, reliable, and accessible energy to as many people as possible”.
David Corchia, CEO of TE H2, says: “The signing of this Preliminary Contract for Land Reservation is a decisive first step for the launch of our investment programme in Morocco.
“It demonstrates our commitment to developing green hydrogen initiatives that support the country’s energy transition, industrialisation and job creation.
“The Kingdom has the potential to supply affordable and clean energy to Europe while serving its own decarbonized industrial development.
“Our consortium is strong, our overall Moroccan plan is very ambitious, and I look forward to reinforcing further our collaboration with local authorities and stakeholders and pursuing the work on this promising project.”
The Chbika green hydrogen project
The project will be located near the Atlantic coast in the Guelmim-Oued region of Morocco.
TE H2 and CIP will be responsible for the project’s renewable energy production through solar, wind, green hydrogen and its derivatives.
A.P. Møller Capital will develop a port and the infrastructure associated with it.
This contract is a first in Morocco and the companies hope that it will demonstrate the country’s renewable energy potential, contributing to its economic development.
“Morocco stands at the forefront of the global energy transition equipped with all the essential fundamentals to emerge as a key partner for Europe and the world in achieving net zero targets,” explains Philip Christiani, Partner at CIP.
“At Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, we’re extremely proud to be a part of this initiative with TEH2 and A.P. Møller Capital and to be selected for the development of the first green hydrogen project under the Offre Maroc framework.”
Kim Fejfer, CEO of A.P. Møller Capital, says: “We are proud to take this important step in the development of the green hydrogen industry in Morocco, building on the A.P. Møller Group’s long-standing history with the country.
“Developing competitive transport infrastructure is part of what we do and a fundamental part of green hydrogen value chains.
“We are looking forward to bringing this project forward in close collaboration with our strong consortium, Moroccan authorities and other stakeholders.”
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