The event brought together international and regional experts to discuss the enabling conditions required for the development of global hydrogen markets and the Mediterranean's pivotal role in advancing clean energy trade between Europe and its Southern partners. More than 140 participants joined the session, moderated by Karan Kochhar from IRENA's Innovation and Technology Centre in Bonn.
Frank Wouters, Director of the MED*GEM Network, opened the webinar by underlining the importance of trade as a driver of future energy cooperation between Europe and the Southern Mediterranean. He emphasized that achieving a net-zero energy system by 2050 will require over USD 9 trillion in new storage investments, including pipelines, ports, and storage facilities, highlighting the essential role of cross-Mediterranean partnerships in delivering this infrastructure.
James Walker, Team Lead for Renewable Gases at IRENA, provided a global overview of the evolving hydrogen economy. According to IRENA's World Energy Transition Outlook 2024, green hydrogen and e-fuels could represent up to 14% of global final energy consumption by 2050, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors such as shipping, aviation, steel, and chemicals. He presented IRENA's modeling of potential global trade flows, showing the Southern Mediterranean and North Africa as emerging renewable energy superpowers, well-positioned to export low-cost hydrogen and derivatives to Europe through new pipelines and shipping routes.
Dr. Mustapha Taoumi, deputy team leader of the MED*GEM Network, provided a regional perspective focused on the Southern Mediterranean's readiness to become a major supplier of renewable hydrogen to Europe. He highlighted that North Africa could supply up to 18% of Europe's hydrogen demand by 2050, backed by exceptional solar and wind potential and existing gas infrastructure such as the Maghreb-Europe and TransMed pipelines. Dr. Taoumi showcased national strategies from Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria, all advancing ambitious hydrogen roadmaps and cross-Mediterranean corridors such as the H2Med and SoutH2 Corridor.
The recording and presentation slides of the webinar will be made available on IRENA's Events Page. MED*GEM Network will also share the replay across its regional communication channels to support knowledge dissemination and stakeholder engagement.