OCP and Engie eye green hydrogen and ammonia collaboration

Moroccan state-owned OCP Group and French power company Engie have taken a step towards launching several projects in renewable energy, energy storage, green hydrogen and ammonia, power infrastructure and sustainable desalination.

On October 28, 2024, the two parties signed a joint development agreement (JDA) aimed at accelerating OCP Group’s energy transition and contributing actively to Morocco’s energy transformation.

According to Engie, the JDA primarily aims to co-develop and manage four large-scale industrial projects:

• developing renewable energy capacity, coupled with storage solutions to ensure flexibility within OCP Group’s energy network;
• creating on-site electrical infrastructure connected to these new renewable energy sources;
• developing green ammonia production capacity, alongside feasibility studies for other green hydrogen derivatives, such as e-methanol and e-SAF, among others; and
• developing water desalination capacity for agricultural use in regions where OCP Group operates.

The agreement also includes deploying a research and innovation agenda to strengthen the competitiveness of this collaboration and foster innovative opportunities, Engie said.

Mostafa Terrab, Chairman and CEO of OCP Group, commented: “This partnership with ENGIE supports our commitment to sustainable growth, focused on energy innovation and decarbonization. Through this strategic alliance, we will continue to enhance OCP Group’s international competitiveness in renewable energy, contributing to a sustainable future for generations to come.”

Catherine MacGregor, CEO of ENGIE, stated: “This partnership with OCP Group reflects a shared vision of energy transition, with an integrated and diversified approach to technological solutions. Together, we will drive the development of low-carbon energy solutions while strengthening Morocco’s industrial ecosystem. This collaboration will position our groups as key players in the decarbonization of Morocco and bolster ENGIE’s presence in the country.”

To note, this JDA also envisions the potential creation of a joint venture (JV) between OCP Group and Engie.

It is worth mentioning that at the beginning of 2024, OCP Group formed a JV with Australia-based Fortescue Energy. The partnership includes the potential development of manufacturing facilities to advance the renewable energy industry in Morocco.

In other news, TE H2, a joint venture between TotalEnergies and EREN Group, and Danish companies Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and A.P. Møller Capital teamed up to develop a large-scale green hydrogen project in Morocco.

The project aims to build 1 GW of onshore solar and wind capacities that will power the production of green hydrogen through the electrolysis of desalinated seawater and its transformation into 200,000 tons per year of green ammonia for the European market.

As disclosed, TE H2 and CIP will be responsible for developing renewable energy production (solar, wind, green hydrogen and its derivatives), while A.P. Møller Capital will develop the port and associated infrastructure.