The concept of a green hydrogen pipeline in Morocco is emerging as a modern initiative aimed at establishing a network that connects potential production areas in the southern regions of the country with storage and industrial consumption centers in the central and northern parts, all at a massive investment cost. A recent study, reviewed by the specialized energy platform based in Washington, outlines a proposed network for transporting from Tan-Tan to Mohammedia, with an estimated capital cost of $1.35 billion. Researchers arrived at this cost based on an assumption of $1.5 million per kilometer for the approximately 900-kilometer pipeline, indicating that this figure serves as an estimate for the study model rather than a budget allocated for an ongoing project.
The study, published in the journal "Hydrogen," utilized a model that combines spatial analysis and planning over several timeframes to select the least expensive infrastructure for the green hydrogen supply chain in , while Mohammedia is designated as a storage and distribution hub within the network.
Green Hydrogen Transport Network
The proposed scenario anticipates the transportation of hydrogen produced in Tan-Tan via the main pipeline to Mohammedia, followed by utilizing coastal shipping to reach Jorf Lasfar and Tangier-Med, instead of extending additional pipelines to these locations. The results indicate that hydrogen flow through the "Tan-Tan-Mohammedia" line is expected to rise from approximately 0.786 million tons annually in 2030 to 2.215 million tons by 2040, ultimately reaching about 4.280 million tons per year by 2050.
Of the total anticipated flows in 2050, approximately 1.438 million tons per year will be directed from Mohammedia to Jorf Lasfar, which represents a center for industrial demand, while flows heading to Tangier-Med will reach around 2.842 million tons annually. This distribution allows the main pipeline to play a role beyond merely connecting Tan-Tan and Mohammedia, transforming it into a vital link between potential production in the south and industrial consumption, storage, and export in other regions of Morocco.
Storage emerges as one of the key factors favoring the green hydrogen pipeline project in Morocco, as the researchers have suggested the possibility of utilizing salt caverns near Mohammedia to store large quantities at a relatively low cost. The study posits a hypothetical geological capacity of up to 3 million tons of hydrogen for storage in these salt caverns, with the assumption that they are located approximately 17 kilometers from Mohammedia. The estimated cost for storage in salt caverns is around $0.0216 per kilogram, compared to $0.432 for storage in buried pipelines, highlighting a significant difference that supports the scenario favoring Mohammedia as the network's center.
The utilization of salt storage in the model is projected to reach its limit of 3 million tons by 2050, necessitating additional storage solutions to accommodate the remaining quantities. The present net value of the hybrid scenario, which combines the main pipeline and coastal shipping, is estimated at approximately $10.838 billion, slightly lower than the scenario relying solely on pipelines for all routes, which amounts to $10.930 billion, and the fully coastal shipping scenario, which reached $11.364 billion.
The levelized cost of ammonia in the hybrid scenario is about $1175.9 per ton, compared to approximately $1186 in the pipeline scenario and $1233 per ton when relying entirely on coastal transport. Researchers tested the engineering feasibility of the "Tan-Tan-Mohammedia" pipeline using digital twin technology to simulate hydrogen flow, revealing a pressure drop of about 8.5 bar along the route in the 2050 flow scenario.
Ultimately, the study’s results are contingent on the assumptions underlying the model, including the evolution of demand, costs of infrastructure, energy, and storage, alongside the necessity for more detailed geological and engineering studies. As of now, the green hydrogen pipeline in Morocco remains a research concept for planning rather than an approved project for execution.
As reported by attaqa.net.
