–
Mauritania has one of the richest coasts in the world in terms of fish wealth. The Mauritanian coast extends 754 km long on the Atlantic Ocean. The Mauritanian beach has strong waves all year round.
In this article, you will discuss the potentials of wave energy in Mauritania, and can it bring about sustainable development?
–
–
MAURITANIA ENERGY’S STATISTICS
Mauritania generates 1,139,000 MWh of electricity as of 2016
–
FOSSIL FUELS ( 72%)
–
820,000 MWh
–
–
Hydroelectricity (16%)
–
180,000 MWh
–
–
Wind Energy (9.13%)
–
104,000 MWh
–
–
Solar Energy (3.07%)
–
35,000 MWh
–
–
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 32% (2019)
electrification – urban areas: 56% (2019)
electrification – rural areas: 4% (2019)
Electricity – production
1.139 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity – consumption
1.059 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity – installed generating capacity
558,000 kW (2016 est.)
–
–
Wave Energy Potentials in Mauritania
–
–
Mauritania has a beach overlooking the Atlantic Ocean with a length of 754 km. The average wave power on the Mauritanian coast is estimated at 17.5 kilowatt-hours per meter, meaning that the waves on the Mauritanian coast produce more than 300,000 megawatts every 24 hours, while the total electricity production in Mauritania is estimated at 3000 megawatts, For every 24 hours. that is, the wave energy produces 100 times the country’s total electricity production, or in other words, utilizing 1% of the wave energy at the Mauritanian coast will be sufficient to cover the country’s electricity needs by 100%.
Mauritania has 754 Km of coastline on the Atlantic ocean
Coastline (km) : 754
Coastal population percentage (%) : 55
The average wave power on the coast (kw/m) : 17.5
Wave energy theoretical potentials (Twh/year) : 115
Wave energy applicable potentials (Twh/year) : 6
Electricity consumption : 1.059 TWh (2016 est.)
wave energy index (%) : 566
–
–
Wave energy for developing of the artisanal fishing sector in Mauritania
–
–
Fishing is an important sector of the Mauritanian economy. All per year it produces up to 10% of GDP and represents up to 50% of the country’s exports. Total catch in Mauritania Water is estimated at 900,000 tons. About 63% of this It consists of small pelagic fish species that live near ocean surface.
The fishing industry directly employs 42,000 to 43,000 people including 80% in the artisanal fishing sector.
For the people of Mauritania and the West Africa provides a cheap source of protein, vitamins and essential micronutrients. However, annual per capita fish consumption in Mauritania is less than 6 kilograms, and about 27% of the population is classified as food insecure.
The problem of lack of electricity is an obstacle to the development of coastal communities. Providing electricity will be important for the development of the fishing industry in Mauritania.
Provides effective artisanal fishing The ability to enhance and secure food security in the country without increasing pressure on fisheries.
–
–
Offshore facilities (breakwaters ) that can be exploited for the installation of Wave energy converters
–
We will review here four seaports in Mauritania, each of which has breakwaters, we will calculate an approximate calculation of the capabilities of wave energy at these facilities and calculate the amount of electricity that will be produced by wave energy convertors if it installed on these facilities .
Port of Nouakchott , Port of Nouadhibou , Port of Tanit , port of N’diago .
–
–
–
- Autonomous Port of Nouakchott Port of Friendship
Nouakchott is the capital and largest city of Mauritania. It is one of the largest cities in the Sahel. The city also serves as the administrative and economic center of Mauritania .The metro area population of Nouakchott in 2021 was 1,372,000 .
–
–
The Friendship Port (Port de l’Amité) is an artificial deep-water port located in Nouakchott, Mauritania.
As the location is not a natural harbor, concrete block breakwaters had to be used to create a safe location for the ships. Plans are being made to increase its capacity.
The port of Nouakchott has a breakwater with a length of 200 meters and perpendicular to a berth of length 250
–
breakwater + berth ( meter ) = 450 m
The average wave power on the coast (kw/m) :
17.5 (Kilowatt /meter)
The total wave energy per year on the breakwater and the berth :
69,000 (MWh/year)
The efficiency of wave energy conversion 30% with using 100% of breakwater length :
20,700 (MWh/year) ~ 1.95%
of the total electricity consumption 1,059,000 MWh (2016)
–
–
–
2. Port of Nouadhibou
Nouadhibou : is the second largest city in Mauritania and serves as a major commercial center. The city itself has about 118,000 inhabitants expanding to over 140,000 in the larger metropolitan area. Processing iron ore forms the largest industry in Nouadhibou, although the overall major economic activity is fishing
–
–
Port of Nouadhibou breakwater
–
breakwater + berth ( meter ) = 460 m
The average wave power on the coast (kw/m) :
10 (Kilowatt /meter)
The total wave energy per year on the breakwater and the berth :
40,000 (MWh/year)
The efficiency of wave energy conversion 30% with using 100% of breakwater length :
12,000 (MWh/year) ~ 1.13% of the total electricity consumption 1,059,000 MWh (2016)
–
–
–
3. Port Tanit
–
Port Tanit breakwater
–
breakwater + berth ( meter ) = 1000 m
The average wave power on the coast (kw/m) :
17.5 (Kilowatt /meter)
The total wave energy per year on the breakwater and the berth :
153,300 (MWh/year)
The efficiency of wave energy conversion 30% with using 100% of breakwater length :
46,000 (MWh/year) ~ 4.35%
of the total electricity consumption 1,059,000 MWh (2016)
–
–
4. Port of N’diago
–
Ndiago or N’Djiago is a town and urban commune in the Trarza Region of south western Mauritania.
Coordinates: 16°10′N 16°30′W
Availability of electricity per capita 30% est.
–
Port of N’diago Breakwater
breakwater ( meter ) = 450 m
The average wave power on the coast (kw/m) :
17.5 (Kilowatt /meter)
The total wave energy per year on the breakwater and the berth :
69,000 (MWh/year)
The efficiency of wave energy conversion 30% with using 100% of breakwater length :
20,700 (MWh/year) ~ 1.95%
of the total electricity consumption 1,059,000 MWh (2016)
–
–
Conclusion: Wave energy can produce 10% of the total annual electricity consumption in Mauritania, if the breakwaters in Mauritanians ports are used as platforms to install wave energy convertors , about 100,000 (MWh/year) .
–
