This IEA report focusing on Mauritania explores the potential benefits to Mauritania of developing its renewable energy options and includes an analysis of the water requirements of hydrogen and the potential for expanding potable water availability through seawater desalination. The government has announced various export-oriented projects to produce renewable hydrogen, ammonia and/or hydrogen-reduced iron. Anchoring demand on foreign offtakers would contribute significantly to de-risk these projects and generate the stable revenue stream needed to mobilise investors at the necessary scale.
By attracting significant amounts of capital, such large-scale projects could enable a transformation of the power sector and spur sustainable economic development and growth, but robust and transparent policies and regulatory frameworks are needed. Deploying renewable energy at scale could first help Mauritania deliver universal electricity access. Deploying solar PV and wind power plants can directly reduce the amount of imported diesel and heavy fuel oil. Its onshore wind resource in coastal areas enables offshore level performance but at a lower cost. Deploying these resources at scale to generate low-cost renewable electricity and hydrogen through electrolysis could therefore attract catalytic investments and accelerate Mauritania’s energy system transformation by closing electricity access gaps, spurring clean and sustainable development and revamping the power sector.
Access the full report here.
