Morocco begins the hunt for carbon emissions

Morocco has started the development of a national carbon capture strategy, led by the Institute for Research in Solar Energy and New Energies (IRESEN). In partnership with German technical cooperation, the first phase of this project includes a study intended to identify and evaluate the main sources of CO₂ emissions in the country, reports The Economist in its edition of Thursday January 23.

Initially, the study focuses on five regions with high industrial potential, identified as being the largest emitters of greenhouse gases: Greater Casablanca, Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma, Marrakech-Safi, Oriental , and Guelmim-Oued Noun. IRESEN teams, supported by GIZ and technical partners such as Dechema, DLR and Gi2, are carrying out a mapping of CO₂ emission sources in these regions, covering industrial units, ports, airports and transport networks.

At the same time, a consultation with local industrial stakeholders is underway to assess their interest in decarbonization technologies and synthetic fuels considered as part of the project. The CO₂ collected will be classified into two categories: fossil and non-fossil sources. The results of this phase, expected in March, will make it possible to more precisely estimate the quantity of CO₂ to be captured each year to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, in accordance with Morocco’s low carbon strategy.

Once the emission sources have been identified, it will be, depending on The Economistto select the most appropriate capture, storage and transport solutions to develop competitive CCUS (Carbon Capture, Use and Storage) technology. An integrated approach is essential: capturing CO₂ without being able to store, transport or use it efficiently would be counterproductive. The “Carbon Capture” roadmap therefore aims to involve local stakeholders in the deployment of suitable solutions.

This project is part of national ambitions for decarbonization and the promotion of renewable energies. In addition to mapping and valorizing local carbon sources, the objective is to exploit CO₂ in Power-to-X (PtX) technologies to produce