Africa is becoming more ambitious, and ever since starting the green energy revolution with the Chbika green hydrogen and ammonia plant. This project, happening in one African country, receives the backing of global investors and seems to be much in demand in Europe. The green energy revolution will soon be guided by the 200,000 tons of green ammonia that is part of the yearly plan and the 1 GW of clean energy to power it. The Chbika project is part of ongoing energy independence efforts.
The green hydrogen project on the Atlantic coast
The Chbika green hydrogen project is located in the Guelmim-Oued Noun, near the Atlantic coast of Morocco. Thus, Morocco is taking charge and leading the change towards sustainable energy sources. The project generates green hydrogen, making the most of solar power and wind energy, that thereafter gets converted into green ammonia by relying on desalinated water.
Chbika will produce an annual amount of 200,000 tons of green ammonia in favor of European export. Thus far, 300,000 hectares of land have been allocated toward the project progressing under the public-private partnership that involves Morocco’s Investment Ministry, the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN), and international firms like TotalEnergies, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, and A.P. Moller Capital. The Chbika project has secured Africa’s role in a global green initiative, and this role shows that the African continent is in favor of green hydrogen.
Understanding the importance of green ammonia for Africa
If Europe is to beat Russia, it has to rely far less on Russian fossil fuels and natural gas. The EU has, as such, been in search of ways to replace Russian energy with cleaner and more secure sources. Russia accounted for more or less 40% of Europe’s natural gas, and any disturbances or occurrences would trigger price shocks and resource insecurity throughout the continent. Morocco’s Chbika project has come in at the right time.
Green ammonia resulting from hydrogen leads to a carbon-free energy carrier that can be shipped globally and utilized in all sectors, including shipping and fertilizing. By looking at creating green ammonia that will be exported from Morocco to Europe, energy dependence on such authoritarian regimes has been reduced significantly. This project from the African continent is a contributing factor in where Europe will derive energy from.
Morocco is becoming a global leader in the energy sector
The Chbika project is the very first active project that falls under Morocco’s umbrella concept of the Green Hydrogen Offer. The broader national target includes:
- 20 GW of renewable energy capacity
- 10 GW of electrolyzers
- 8 million tons of hydrogen derivatives yearly
This initiative is North Africa’s way of ensuring energy transition. Morocco is looking at its land, wind, and sun and is understanding its role as a strategic energy partner.
Deputy Investment Minister Karim Zidane stressed the need to be fast and a leader in the energy sector, and Karim Zidane also acknowledged that Morocco is taking its place on the global hydrogen platform. Thus far, Europe has always been known as being clean energy dependent, but with 45,000 tonnes of green hydrogen yearly, Europe’s undersea energy has started a revolution for Europe as well.
The merger in favor of energy between Europe and Africa
This is one project that signifies a new direction for Africa that seems to drift away from Africa as the resource provider to Africa as a resource leader. The intention is to produce 200,000 tons of green ammonia closest to the Atlantic Ocean, making Morocco an independent African country in terms of its sustainable energy goals.
Africa is paving its role as a lucrative partner in the green energy forefront, and even Russia may need to get to grips with the new reality of a greener future ensured by Africa. The discovery of 1,400,000 kg of hydrogen under the mine could symbolize that Africa holds the end of gas and petroleum in the world.
