Masdar set to develop 15MW solar plant in Mauritania

posted on 24/10/2012: 846 views

Masdar announced on Tuesday the development of a 15-megawatt solar power project in Nouakchott, the capital city of Mauritania, which will be able to deliver 10 per cent of electricity capacity in the country.

The project is the first utility-scale solar power installation in Mauritania.

Masdar is a renewable energy company based in Abu Dhabi, which has major power projects around the world.

"Mauritania has some of the highest levels of solar radiation in the world, making it an ideal place for solar power installations,” Mauritania's Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Mines Taleb Ould Abdivall said. "We are pleased to be working with such esteemed partners on this important project and remain committed to harnessing our abundant renewable energy resources. Masdar has gained tremendous experience in the renewable energy sector through its projects worldwide and we look forward to future opportunities for cooperation.”

Mauritania has an installed grid capacity of just 144MW, supplied mostly by diesel generators, but the country has significant untapped renewable energy potential in the form of both solar and wind. In fact, the country's wind energy potential is almost four times its annual energy demand.

The 15MW solar photovoltaic project will provide for the annual demand growth in the country, estimated to be at a rate of 12 per cent in 2012. It will also supply much needed power to Mauritania, which currently faces severe energy shortages. The country has a low electrification rate of 60 per cent.

"This project also proves that energy access and commercially viable renewable energy can go hand-in-hand,” Masdar chief executive officer Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said. "Partnerships are at the core of Masdar's business strategy and projects like this one underscore the critical role collaboration plays in renewable energy development.

"With the demand for energy rapidly increasing — especially in the developing world – tapping into renewable energy is critical,” Dr Al Jaber added. – Khaleej Times

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