In 2022, the European Union delegation in Algeria published a tender for a Twinning project for the sustainable energy transition. The German-Dutch proposal was successful. And in February 2023, the project started. So far, the German-Dutch consortium has held 2 missions to Algeria.
These missions involved meetings with Algerian institutes to introduce German and Dutch experts. They also involved workshops, training sessions and other activities to strengthen Algerian institutes' positions as facilitators of the energy transition.
Green hydrogen ambitions
Algeria has a history of exporting fossil resources, mainly gas, to Europe. The country will likely continue to export these resources, but will also focus on its renewable energy sector. Algeria is determined to become a significant player in the international green hydrogen market with its vast renewable energy resources and excellent gas infrastructure. The announcement of a national hydrogen roadmap in March 2023 underlined this ambition.
Strengthening energy policy
This Twinning project aims to help Algeria reduce its CO2 emissions and meet the Climate goals of the Paris Agreement. It will also help Europe meet the demand for green energy. The project mainly focuses on institutional capacity building. But the collaboration also offers the parties the opportunity to meet influential policymakers and determine the potential for further cooperation. This will support the Climate and Energy Response facility's activities in Algeria, especially in solar energy and green hydrogen.
The German-Dutch European Union (EU) Twinning project focuses on 3 areas to strengthen Algeria's energy policy and its institutes. The partners in this project will each focus on a different area:
| Focus | Project partner |
|---|---|
| 1. Institutional development | German Energy Agency DENA |
| 2. Data analysis and forecasting | City University of Applied Sciences in Bremen |
| 3. Monitoring and evaluation | The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) |
The project will achieve improvements in these areas through workshops, training sessions and joint projects. Algerian delegations will also go on study visits to Germany and the Netherlands.
The German Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) is the leading party in the Twinning project; the Netherlands is the junior partner. The Dutch team includes experts from:
- The Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL);
- The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO); and
- The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
Next steps
During the first missions, the Algerian counterparts expressed interest in technical training on topics such as hydrogen, solar energy and grid integration. Dutch international development programmes like the Climate and Energy Response Facility (CERF) and Shiraka will meet these needs. New activities will build on the existing cooperation between Algeria and European countries, such as Germany and Italy. This will ensure a beneficial outcome for all parties involved.
More information
The Netherlands Enterprise Agency manages CERF on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For more information, visit the CERF page or contact the CERF team. Would you like to stay informed on this project and other development projects? Subscribe to our Newsletter.