North Africa as an emerging green hydrogen hub: Algeria in focus

North Africa is emerging as a pivotal geoeconomic link in transcontinental energy flows across Europe, Asia, and Africa. This study evaluates the regional energy landscape, renewable resource endowment, and existing infrastructure in North Africa to identify key conditions enabling development of a green-hydrogen hub, with emphasis on Algeria as a core contributor to a trans-Mediterranean hydrogen corridor. The analysis shows that abundant solar and wind resources, proximity to European markets, and extensive natural gas pipeline and port systems create favorable conditions for cost-competitive green hydrogen production and large-scale export. The dense domestic gas network and existing trans-Mediterranean pipelines in Algeria provide practical pathways for hydrogen transport. However, the region faces persistent challenges, including slow renewable energy deployment, limited grid flexibility, and geopolitical uncertainty. The study concludes that realizing hydrogen potential in North Africa requires firm local industrial demand, coordinated regional governance, and long-term offtake agreements with shared infrastructure investments with the European Union. The findings support evidence-based development of the North Africa–Europe hydrogen corridor and design of regional energy strategies. • Abundant solar and wind resources support green hydrogen potential in North Africa. • The gas pipeline network in Algeria forms a backbone for a regional hydrogen hub. • Limited renewable expansion and pipeline repurposing remain key technical barriers. • Regional cooperation and EU collaboration are vital for hydrogen development.