The 5th edition of the World Power-to-X Summit concluded last Thursday in Marrakech with a call for the establishment of a global ecosystem around green hydrogen and its derivatives to accelerate the global energy transition.
During the closing session, Ayoub Hirt, head of the green chemistry department at the Solar Energy and New Energies Research Institute (IRESEN), emphasized that “projects undertaken in this field must evolve into true ecosystems that generate skills, jobs, and sustainable competitiveness,” stressing the importance of clear and stable regulatory frameworks to inspire confidence among investors and support the development of strategic infrastructures such as ports, pipelines, and storage and certification systems.
Mr. Hirt noted that the large-scale deployment of green hydrogen projects requires unprecedented investments, calling in this regard for a “quadrupling” of green energy capacities and the development of innovative financial tools, including contracts for difference and double-option models, capable of reducing financing costs by 20 to 30%.
On the financial front, he addressed the challenges posed by high costs and investment return uncertainties, advocating for “blended finance” approaches, public-private partnerships, and risk-sharing tools to secure pilot projects, particularly in emerging markets.
At the national level, the speaker highlighted the “considerable potential of green ammonia,” which he believes requires rapid deployment as a matter of energy sovereignty and competitiveness and necessitates accelerated regulation and investment in critical infrastructures, including smart grids, renewable desalination, pipeline transportation, and carbon storage.
Regarding the geopolitical aspect, Mr. Hirt stated, “the global energy map is undergoing significant changes, and the strategic resources of tomorrow are no longer oil and gas, but rather wind, sun, and hydrogen.”
Furthermore, the IRESEN representative concluded that Morocco, with its renewable resources and pioneering initiatives, is positioning itself as an essential future industrial hub in this sector.
Organized under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI by IRESEN, in partnership with Masen, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), and the Green H2 Cluster, the World Power-to-X Summit brought together renowned decision-makers, researchers, and industrialists.
This edition, initiated under the theme “Together, driving the global energy transition,” served as an international crossroads for inter-regional cooperation, innovation, and the promotion of Morocco’s offerings in green hydrogen.
MAP