The first edition of the “Green Hydrogen Morocco Camp”, an initiative aimed at promoting green hydrogen in Morocco, was launched on Monday at the Green Energy Park in Benguerir, capital of the province of Rehamna.
Organised until 6 July, this camp, in which around forty participants, including Masters students, doctoral students and young researchers, are taking part, is the result of close collaboration between the Institute for Research in Solar Energy and New Energies (IRESEN), the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) in Morocco and the MED-GEM network financed by the European Union.
The camp’s rich and varied program includes a “Summer School” and a “hackathon” under the theme “Green Hydrogen Morocco Camp: from theory to action”.
Participants will have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of green hydrogen through conferences, workshops and practical demonstrations, supervised by nationally and internationally renowned experts.
On July 6, they will put their knowledge into practice by participating in the first phase of the hackathon, where they will propose innovative solutions adapted to the national market.
The top three teams will receive mentoring throughout the summer before presenting their final prototypes at the finals scheduled for next October as part of the “World PtX Summit”.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the event, IRESEN CEO and Green Energy Park Chairman Samir Rachidi said participants will receive a week-long training on the hydrogen value chain and its applications.
The event offers a suitable opportunity for participants to establish contacts and create a new network between students but also to interact with experts and trainers, especially since these young people will also be part of a Mediterranean network that will focus on the energy transition and sustainable development in the Mediterranean region, he added.
This event will be sanctioned by the hackathon, a competition inviting participants to respond to challenges related to green hydrogen and its applications, he noted, explaining that the ultimate objective is to promote the creation of innovative start-ups to go from theory to practice and promote impact and value creation.
For her part, the head of the portfolio of projects in the field of energy and sustainable mobility at GIZ-Morocco, Omnia Aboukorah-Voigt, explained that this event reflects the fruitful collaboration between Morocco and Germany, particularly in the field of energy transition, recalling the recent signing of a declaration between the two countries aimed at establishing a common alliance for climate and energy.
She also welcomed the organisation of this event, expressing the commitment of the GIZ teams, in collaboration with the various partners, to contribute to the success of this energy transition.
For his part, the director of the MED-GEM Network, Frank Wouters, noted that the organizers received more than 300 applications, 70% of which came from women, before selecting around forty to take part in this week of constructive debates, innovation, learning and interaction.
He highlighted the potential that Morocco enjoys in terms of the production of very low-cost green electricity and green hydrogen, stressing that the Kingdom has the natural resources, but also the skills and human capital necessary for success in this area.
Abounding in the same sense, the head of cooperation at the EU delegation, Jean Christophe Filori, highlighted Morocco’s promising prospects in terms of green hydrogen which will be a “central element” for the decarbonization of the energy ecosystem, offering immense opportunities for economic growth and, therefore, for the strengthening of Europe’s commercial, energy and industrial relations with its southern Mediterranean neighbors, particularly Morocco.
The hydrogen value chain will be a driver for job creation and socio-economic development, he added.
This “Summer School” offers a unique experience to immerse yourself in the dynamic world of green hydrogen, as Morocco resolutely moves towards environmentally friendly energy solutions.
Then, during the hackathon, participants work in teams to develop innovative solutions adapted to the national market, with the support of experienced mentors.
