Benguerir, July 1, 2024 – Co-organised by IRESEN – Research Institute for Solar Energy and New Energies, the MED•GEM Network, and GIZ Morocco with the support, the first edition of the hashtag#GH2MoroccoCamp kicked off today at the Green Energy Park in Benguerir. From July 1 to 6, the event gathers 40 participants selected from 300 applicants, mostly Moroccan and Master’s or PhD researchers, among whom more than 60% are women engineers, will delve into topics such as green hydrogen production, PtX products, regulatory frameworks, industrial standards, industrial projects, financing models, and investment attraction through case studies led by renowned experts.

The final day will feature a hackathon where participants can apply their theoretical knowledge to propose innovative solutions for the renewable hydrogen market in Morocco and take action. The top three projects will receive mentorship to refine their solutions over the summer and present their final projects at the “World PtX Summit” in Marrakech on October 8-9, 2024 and the winning team will earn a study trip to Europe.

The opening ceremony this morning featured inspiring speeches and a shared vision for excellence, equity & sustainability.

Samir RACHIDI, General Director of IRESEN, emphasised the importance of curiosity & innovation for researchers. He highlighted the Green park’s role as a large-scale technology validation platform, providing opportunities for technology developers and suppliers to mitigate investment risks and develop new businesses and services.

Jean-Christophe Filori, Minister Counsellor & Head of Cooperation at the Union européenne au Maroc, reminded the EU-Morocco cooperation on green hydrogen through the “Green Pact,” and the importance for decarbonising energy systems and achieving EU climate goals while enhancing economic opportunities and trade relations.

Omnia Aboukorah-Voigt, Director of the Energy and Sustainable Energy Cluster Coordinator at hashtag#GIZMorocco and Lars Henning Wenzel, officer for cooperation at the German Embassy highlighted international collaboration, particularly between Germany and Morocco. They announced recent bilateral agreements to support innovative projects and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Frank Wouters, Director of MED•GEM Network, provided a European Commission through EU Neighborhood & Enlargement perspective, encouraging joint efforts to establish a long-term vision for clean energy in Europe and North Africa, and urged young researchers to take concrete steps towards this vision, emphasising cross-border collaboration.

MED-GEM Network is funded by the European Union implemented by GIZ International Services.