The Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Morocco has signed partnerships with two global corporates with the aim of advancing its research knowhow around low carbon fuels.
Commenting on the university’s goal with the partnerships, Mohamed Bousseta (Innovate for Industry Director) said: “We observe an acceleration of the energy transition worldwide to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, low carbon fuels will be an important part of the future energy mix.”
To drive its low carbon fuels research agenda, the Ben Guerir based university has established partnerships with several industry players, including the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (Masen), and launched numerous initiatives such as the Green Energy Park, a research and innovation platform that focuses on renewable energy.
Moroccan university inks partnerships with Shell and Capgemini
Recently added to its portfolio of partnerships are Shell, a global oil & gas company, and Capgemini, a worldwide operating IT consulting an services group.
With Shell, the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University will work to analyse available feedstocks in Morocco for their potential to be converted into low carbon fuels, including sustainable aviation fuel. The research team will also evaluate the feasibility of developing technological solutions for sustainable aviation fuel and other products based on the availability of feedstock data.
“The partnership aims to explore the feasibility of innovative waste feedstocks for the potential production and supply of low-carbon fuels,” said Rida Sabri, Deputy CEO of Shell’s EcoOils business in Morocco.
The partnership builds on a longstanding relationship between the two organisations. Previously, the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University and Shell cooperated on a joint green hydrogen pilot project, among others.
Meanwhile, the research collaboration with Capgemini is focused on the green hydrogen segment, and in particular the area of energy storage. “We will cooperate on areas suc as the development of solid-state storage of hydrogen for mobility applications and the design, simulation, and integration of H2 storage inside vehicles,” stated the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in a release.
The university’s work in green hydrogen follows from Morocco’s strategy to become a major exporter of green hydrogen – touted by Arthur D. Little to become a $700 billion industry by 2050. The country is currently establishing a domestic production industry.
The renewable energy source is also considered a key low-carbon substitute for the production of ammonia, which is of strategic importance for the country as the substance is a key ingredient in fertilizer. Producing ammonia from green energy would reduce dependency on imports.
For Capgemini, the partnership comes months after the French-headquartered group announced plans to add 1,500 additional staff to its team in Morocco by 2026.