TotalEnergies has signed a historic agreement for the construction of a green hydrogen production plant in the Guelmim-Oued Noun region, in Chbika. This memorandum of understanding, concluded between TotalEnergies, a Danish investment fund, and a group specialized in infrastructure, marks a decisive turning point in the development of renewable energies in Morocco, reported L’Economiste on November 4.
The future plant will utilize electrolysis technology, powered by an energy capacity of 1 gigawatt, evenly split between solar and wind. The goal is to produce 200,000 tons of green ammonia per year, intended for the European market. Patrick Pouyanné, CEO of TotalEnergies, emphasizes that this agreement is part of the group’s strategy to develop projects in countries with competitive renewable resources like Morocco, in order to meet Europe’s energy needs within the framework of the Green Deal.
This is an unprecedented project on a global scale. By comparison, the largest current electrolysis installation reaches 20 megawatts, while the Chbika project aims for 300 megawatts, before reaching 1 gigawatt. Located on the Atlantic coast, the project will involve the production of green hydrogen from the electrolysis of desalinated seawater, supported by a network of port infrastructures developed by A.P. Møller Capital.
TotalEnergies H2 (TE H2), a joint venture between TotalEnergies and the EREN group, will be responsible, along with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), for the development of renewable energy sources. This project will highlight Morocco’s potential as a regional leader in green energies and contribute to the economic development of the southern provinces, thereby strengthening the country’s position on the international clean energy stage.