During the week of February 24 to 28, the first in-person lecture on Algerian-German collaboration in higher education and scientific research on green hydrogen took place at the Houari Boumediene University of Science and Technology (USTHB) in Algiers, Algeria. The project is supported by GIZ and was planned and conducted by Dr. Abdallah Nassour and Dr. Ibrahim Rahmouni (Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) as well as Prof. Dr. Uwe Ritschel (Faculty of Mechanical and Marine Engineering and Director of the IWEN Energy Institute gGmbH).
The aim of the collaboration is to expand and apply technologies for green hydrogen and Power-to-X, with a focus on their production from renewable energies and aspects of storage, transport, and utilization. A special emphasis is placed on the integration of renewable energy sources in GH2 production, addressing grid connections, smart grids, CO2 emission reductions, and relevant regulations. Furthermore, the importance of energy efficiency is highlighted, covering fundamental knowledge, technologies, measures, regulations, guidelines, and standards derived from both international experiences and the specific context of Algeria. With these objectives, the project complements ongoing activities within the framework of the energy partnership between Germany and Algeria.
The first in-person lecture was conducted by Professor Uwe Ritschel. The topic was hydrogen and wind energy in the Algerian context. The compact three-day course consisted of lectures and exercises on this subject and was attended by approximately 120 students from natural science and engineering disciplines. Key focuses of the lecture included wind conditions in Algeria, potential sites for wind farms, optimization of wind turbines for hydrogen production, and potential value creation through wind energy in Algeria. Due to the success of the inaugural event, the project partners are very optimistic about the further progress of the project.