5th German-Algerian Energy Day
Future technologies that connect us - Renewable energies & Green hydrogen
As part of the Algerian-German Energy Partnership project, the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK), co-organized the fifth edition of the Algerian-German Energy Day on October 23, 2023, in Algiers, under the theme "Future Technologies Connecting Us - Renewable Energies & Green Hydrogen."
H.E. Mr. Mohamed Arkab, Minister of Energy and Mines, and Mr. Stefan Wenzel, Parliamentary State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, participated in the opening ceremony. Both emphasized the importance of bilateral cooperation in addressing challenges related to global energy transition in the face of climate change. The Energy Day brought together over 150 international participants from the business, political, and research sectors to exchange ideas on common goals and potential challenges, and to enhance cooperation that has been fruitful since 2017. "The partnership between Germany and Algeria is a clear example of how the challenges of climate change and energy transition can be addressed in new constellations," said Parliamentary State Secretary Stefan Wenzel (BMWK).
The first conference session focused on green hydrogen and highlighted the implementation of Algeria's national hydrogen strategy as well as prospects for cooperation and market development in this new sector. International experts also shared insights into the German and European hydrogen strategy and cooperation with Algeria, including the KfW Development Bank and the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research.
Following that, the "SoutH2Corridor" project was presented. This is a pipeline for the transport of green hydrogen, connecting Italy, Austria, and Germany to North Africa. The pipeline will be 3,300 km long, with 70% consisting of repurposed natural gas infrastructure, and will have the potential to import 4 million tons of hydrogen annually by 2030.
Next, the implementation contract for technical cooperation between Algeria and Germany on "Technology and Socio-Economic Development for Renewable Energies and Green Hydrogen - TaqatHy" was signed. The project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), is implemented in collaboration with the Algerian Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM). Its goal is to promote the development and use of renewable energies and green hydrogen in Algeria through technical cooperation.
Another focus of the Energy Day was the current state of renewable energy development. Topics such as Algeria's national renewable energy program, its current implementation status, and future prospects were discussed, as well as global trends in the solar energy market.
The fifth Algerian-German Energy Day concluded with closing remarks from Sofiane Ouffa, Director of International Cooperation at the Algerian Ministry of Energy and Mines, who emphasized the significance of this exchange for Algeria's energy future and the role of international cooperation in the global fight against climate change.
This event underscored the commitment of both countries to the development of renewable energies, the promotion of green hydrogen, and international cooperation to work together towards global energy transition.