Is Nordex set for huge turbine order after securing spot in green hydrogen mega-plan?
Nordex and Acciona are named together in consortium set to supply at least one huge green hydrogen project in Moroccan desert
Germany’s Nordex could be set for a huge order for its wind turbines after securing a spot together with Spanish infrastructure group Acciona on a $33bn plan to generate green hydrogen in the Moroccan desert.
The Moroccan government has selected a handful of companies to develop six green hydrogen facilities producing green ammonia, e-fuels or green steel as their end products, it announced last week.
The projects together have an investment value of 319bn dirhams ($32.8bn).
Nordex is part of the Ornx consortium that also features renewables developer Acciona Energia — the turbine maker’s own largest shareholder — and US independent power producer Ortus. The consortium will produce green ammonia.
Another consortium selected for the Moroccan projects consists of two major Chinese players, independent oil and gas exploration and production company United Energy Group and state-owned power company China Three Gorges Corporation.
Saudi Arabian energy company ACWA Power, Emirati gas company TAQA and Moroccan renewables developer Nareva are all also signed up to develop projects.
Last year, nearly 40 projects applied for Morocco’s “hydrogen offer” programme, which offers blocks of land and tax incentives, but no direct subsidies.
The government says the six projects will be carried out by five sets of developers, including the Ornx consortium. It has not however provided any more information on the projects, or clarified which consortium will supply more than one.
“The selection of the six project developers was conducted through a scientific and transparent methodology, ensuring a balanced and sustainable partnership between the Kingdom of Morocco and these investors,” said the government.
The goal is to reach preliminary agreements that will facilitate the allocation of land for these strategic projects, with a maximum of 30,000 hectares per project, it said.
The exact role Nordex will play in the Ornx consortium is unclear, but the fact the German manufacturer is part of it raises the tantalising possibility that it could be in line for a very substantial wind turbine supply deal for one or more of the vast desert projects.
Nordex and Acciona teamed up in 2023 on two joint ventures, one to develop and produce electrolysers for green hydrogen production; and the second to develop green hydrogen projects in various regions worldwide.
They did however confirm that the goal of its tie-up with Acciona on developing green hydrogen projects is in part to “create additional sales opportunities for wind turbines.”