From Algeria to Egypt, major projects to export green hydrogen to Italy

Cairo – From Algeria to Egypt, projects are underway to export green hydrogen to Europe, especially Italy. In particular, Algiers aims to produce 1.2 million tons per year starting in 2024. An initiative that is not only based on detailed plans but also involves the creation of legal and regulatory frameworks and significant pilot projects, such as the 50-megawatt project by the oil company Sonatrach, said Yassaa Noureddine, commissioner for renewable energy and energy efficiency in Algeria, outlining the government’s main goals during Cairo Sustainable Energy Week (CSEW). A central element of this strategy is the Southern Hydrogen Corridor, a project that aims to transport renewable hydrogen from Algeria to Germany via Tunisia, Italy, and Austria. In this context, Algeria established significant partnerships with Italy, with whom it has a historic relationship that has evolved over the years, extending from natural gas to solar energy and green hydrogen, Noureddine added. Sonatrach, for example, is working closely with Italian partners to implement innovative solar energy projects and has already completed a 10 MW project in Algeria, showing a willingness to expand the use of green hydrogen as an energy carrier.

In parallel, Tunisia’s Secretary of State for Energy Transition, Ouael Chouchene, stressed the importance of Tunisia’s transformation from a net energy importer to a net exporter.  The transition implies not only the development of the export market but also the adoption of new renewable energy regulations, which will harmonize existing legislation and introduce mechanisms for the export of electricity and green hydrogen.

Going east, Osama Fawzy Georgy Henein, founder, and CEO of the H2lligence platform, explains that “a two-day conference was held two months ago between Europe and Egypt that elevated their strategic partnership to the highest of levels, both in the economic and social spheres, with a focus on Green Hydrogen and renewable energy. The Egyptian government is dedicating all Green Hydrogen projects to export exclusively. There is no mention of the localization of Green Hydrogen for hard-to-decarbonize industries in Egypt. More than 15 million tons of green ammonia, which contains Green Hydrogen, will be exported to our main markets in the European Union.”

The Middle East, with its favorable geographic location and abundant renewable resources, is preparing to become a hub for green hydrogen, Heba Rabie, director for the Middle East and North Africa region of the Global Wind Energy Council, highlights, pointing out that there are several potential hubs for green hydrogen in the area, including Morocco, Egypt, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. There should be a “future green hydrogen boom in the region” by integrating solar and wind capacity. Chinese giant Longi is also betting on Africa, highlighting the continent’s potential for solar production and the resulting opportunities for energy-intensive industries. Guo Koben, general manager for Africa and the Middle East at Longi, pointed out that Egypt, due to its strategic location, could become a leading hydrogen export center to Europe and Asia, with Longi playing a leading role considering that the Asian group is the world’s largest producer of water electrolyzers, a crucial technology for green hydrogen production.

In all this, Italy could become a significant importer of green hydrogen as demand increases rapidly. Alberto Giaconia of Enea highlighted that although the country currently produces 250,000 tons of hydrogen, future demand could reach millions of tons. This scenario requires hydrogen from other countries, as Italy is not self-sufficient. Giaconia pointed out that transporting hydrogen as fuel will be much easier than transferring energy as power, further underlining the importance of renewable sources in the region. According to Giaconia, head of Enea’s Hydrogen and New Energy Carriers Laboratory, the ten countries with the most significant potential for hydrogen exports are in North Africa, in the southern part of the Mediterranean: Libya, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt. “Interestingly, 73 percent of this pipeline already exists. It is just a restructuring. It is for natural gas but can be easily converted to deliver hydrogen. Its capacity allows it to deliver about 5 million tons per year. And 5 million tons per year is the right number; it’s the right order of magnitude of the capacity we need,” concludes the Enea researcher.