Iran is drafting a national hydrogen strategy as it seeks to replace fossil fuels

Iran is drafting a national strategy to increase its use of hydrogen energy, IRNA reported earlier this week, citing statements by the country’s Deputy Energy Minister Mahmoud Kamani. The minister said that Iran’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Organization is currently drafting the document, which will then be sent to the ministry for approval. Kamani added that hydrogen has the potential to replace fossil fuels and will make up for the limitations of solar systems, which are unable to generate electricity at night. There was no timeline disclosed on when the hydrogen strategy will be ready for review.

On a renewables mission: Iran’s renewables sector relies mostly on solar, hydroelectric, and wind power plants to generate the lion’s share of its output. Renewables account for nearly 7% of the country’s total energy generation, the vast majority of which comes from hydrocarbons. Last year, Iran said it plans to add 10 GW of renewable capacity by August 2025. It also signed MoUs with the private sector last year to set up new renewable power plants across the country.

A partnership between Chariot, UM6P, and Oort: Chariot Green Hydrogen Limited — a subsidiary of Chariot Limited Group — has signed a partnership agreement with Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) and Oort Energy Limited to test the production of green hydrogen in Morocco, according to the a press release(pdf). The partnership will focus on constructing, commissioning and operating an electrolyzer pilot project to deploy a 1 MW polymer electrolyte membrane system. The agreements are set to develop skills and training within the sector, as well as evaluate the feasibility of implementing large scale green hydrogen and ammonia production.

This has been in the works for a while: The three parties announced the pilot project last November, according to a separate press release (pdf), which would use the Oort-patented PEM system to split water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable energy.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-

• UM6P and EDF renewables work together: Mohammed VI Polytechnic University has signed a MoU with EDF Renewables Morocco to collaborate on developing education and R&D in the mining and chemical industries. (Morocco World News)
• Jordan rolls out public sector EVs: The Jordan Post Office has rolled out a fleet of electric vehicles in a bid to minimize its carbon emissions with support from a Universal Postal Union grant. (Al Mamlakah)