The Trump administration has provided funding for a green hydrogen initiative in Morocco, marking an unexpected development given recent shifts in US energy policy. The US Trade and Development Agency awarded a $5.7 million grant to the joint venture ORNX to support preliminary studies for a large-scale ammonia production facility in Morocco’s southern regions.
The project represents a departure from traditional ammonia production methods. Rather than using hydrogen derived from natural gas or coal, this initiative employs green hydrogen technology where water is split through electrolyzer systems powered by renewable electricity. Morocco’s abundant wind and solar resources make it well-suited for this application. The grant specifically targets electrolyzer technology developed by Massachusetts-based startup Electric Hydrogen, which has secured substantial backing from major corporations and investors.
The Moroccan government has pursued green hydrogen development as part of its broader investment strategy, tapping multiple consortia in March of 2025 to develop six green hydrogen projects across three southern regions. ORNX is responsible for developing one ammonia facility in Laâyoune with a projected annual production capacity of 560,000 tons. The multinational consortium includes Spain’s Acciona, Germany’s Nordex, and Ortus Power Resources Morocco, with notable US connections among its leadership.
The project’s location in a disputed region adds geopolitical dimensions to the initiative. The US grant announcement coincided with Morocco naming a highway after President Trump, and the US Ambassador publicly declared America’s presence in the Moroccan Sahara during the grant handover ceremony. Morocco’s overall green hydrogen investment plan, valued at 319 billion dirhams, aims to supply European and global markets while addressing the persistent challenge of high green hydrogen production costs through technological innovation and scale.
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