Morocco pacts with Nareva, GE Renova in green hydrogen project

Moroccan utility ONEE announced on Tuesday a partnership with renewable energy firms Nareva and GE Renova to conduct a feasibility study on substituting fuel with green hydrogen for a 99 megawatt power plant’s operation.

The plant is situated in Laayoune, Western Sahara’s biggest city.

GE Vernova will help the Laayoune power plant produce electricity entirely from green hydrogen, sourced from Nareva’s Laayoune wind farm.

This effort supports Morocco’s goal to increase its renewable installed capacity from the current 40 per cent to 52 per cent by 2030.

Meanwhile, the Moroccan government has been developing a green hydrogen strategy for several months to draw investors, aiming to leverage the country’s plentiful wind and solar resources.

As per official data, coal generates about 70 per cent of Morocco’s electricity, while renewables accounted for 20 per cent last year.

GE Renova, a subsidiary of General Electric, and Nareva, a component of the Moroccan royal family’s Al Mada holding company, are involved in the project.

The study will span two years, but the financial details of the agreement remain undisclosed.