Casablanca – Morocco is emerging as one of the most promising players in the global transition to clean energy, advancing a comprehensive strategy to develop large-scale green hydrogen projects while maintaining some of the most competitive production costs in the world. A series of recent government decisions and international partnerships highlight the country’s ambition to become a regional and global hub for renewable energy.

At the heart of this strategy is the national “Morocco Offer” for green hydrogen, a framework designed to attract top-tier investors and accelerate large-scale projects. On March 6, 2025, Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch chaired a meeting of the Steering Committee for the Morocco Offer in Rabat, where five national and international investors were selected to develop six major green hydrogen projects worth $32.9 billion. These projects will be built across Morocco’s three southern regions, leveraging the country’s vast land reserves, abundant renewable resources, and strategic location near European markets.

The selected investors include some of the world’s leading renewable energy companies. The ORNX consortium, bringing together U.S.-based Ortos, Spain’s Acciona, and Germany’s Nordex, will focus on producing green ammonia. A second alliance, composed of the United Arab Emirates’ TAQA and Spain’s Cepsa, will produce ammonia and synthetic fuels. Morocco’s own Nareva will develop facilities to produce ammonia, synthetic fuels, and green steel. Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power will invest in ammonia production, while a Chinese partnership between UEG and China Three Gorges will also focus on green ammonia.

The government has approved the signing of preliminary contracts to secure public land of up to 30,000 hectares per project. These agreements are designed to protect state property while providing investors with the space needed for large-scale installations. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the selection process follows a scientific and transparent methodology to ensure balanced, long-term partnerships between Morocco and the investors.

Progress on specific projects is already underway. The Steering Committee recently confirmed the successful completion of the preliminary phase of “Chbika 1,” a flagship green hydrogen project led by a consortium of French and Danish companies. The project will now move into advanced technical studies, with construction planned to follow.

Morocco’s efforts are not limited to project approvals. The government is emphasizing integrated infrastructure planning, including electricity grids, port facilities, and desalination plants, to ensure that construction schedules align with project timelines. Prime Minister Akhannouch has described the Morocco Offer as a disciplined and precise initiative that strengthens investor confidence and positions the country as a key energy center.

These developments build on earlier agreements signed in October 2024 in Rabat in the presence of King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron. Those deals included an accord with TotalEnergies to activate the Morocco Offer and another joint development plan between the OCP Group and Engie, covering five renewable projects, one of which focuses on green hydrogen.

Morocco’s strategy is reinforced by its strong cost competitiveness in hydrogen production. A recent report from the International Gas Union (IGU) and energy research firm Rystad Energy places Morocco among the most competitive producers of green hydrogen globally, with a production cost of just $4.6 per kilogram. By comparison, production costs reach about $5 per kilogram in Saudi Arabia and $6 per kilogram in Australia. For blue hydrogen—produced from natural gas with carbon capture—Morocco’s cost stands at $2.6 per kilogram, lower than Australia’s $4 and close to the Saudi benchmark of $2.

These cost advantages position Morocco to benefit from the growing international demand for clean hydrogen. Europe, in particular, is investing heavily in hydrogen infrastructure. Germany committed $20.3 billion in 2024 to develop a national hydrogen network, while 20 companies in France, Germany, Portugal, and Spain have launched the H2Med Southwestern Hydrogen Corridor to connect Iberian producers to northern Europe by the early 2030s. A declaration of intent has also been signed to develop the Southern Hydrogen Corridor, which would link North Africa directly to Italy, Austria, and Germany—a potential export route for Moroccan hydrogen.

The combination of abundant solar and wind resources, strategic proximity to Europe, and favorable production costs gives Morocco a unique advantage as the global hydrogen economy takes shape. By maintaining an open selection process for investors and ensuring careful planning of supporting infrastructure, the Moroccan government aims to accelerate the rollout of green hydrogen projects while reinforcing the country’s position as a regional and global leader in renewable energy.

As global demand for clean fuels intensifies, Morocco’s green hydrogen strategy illustrates how emerging economies can leverage natural resources, strategic geography, and competitive costs to play a central role in the worldwide shift to sustainable energy.