The photo is sourced from saurenergy.com
The project, called AMAN, is really great and ambitious as the supposed output will be almost three times higher than the annual energy consumption in neighbouring Morocco, and the installed capacity of wind turbines (18 GW) and solar panels (12 GW) would exceed the current pan-African levels (7.3 GW and 11.4 GW, respectively, as says the International Renewable Energy Agency). The construction of the generation and electrolysis facilities will revitalise the economy of Mauritania. The country’s GDP is expected to increase by 50-60% by 2035, unemployment would reduce by a third, while the housing sector and farmers will get access to the freshwater reserves of 50 million cubic metres. Finally, the project will indirectly promote development of fuel cell transport.
“This Framework Agreement is not only a sign that the AMAN project is entering its next phase of development, but also that green hydrogen is emerging as a key tool in the energy transition – both for its potential to boost investment in host regions, and for its promising role in decarbonizing heavy industry. Mauritania’s leadership in the energy transition is both impressive and very encouraging, and we are proud to be their chosen partner on this journey. The Framework Agreement sets a course for building the project so that production and export of green hydrogen can begin before the end of the decade,” platform Energy Capital & Power quotes Mark Crandall, the CWP founder and chairman.
The metallurgical industry is a branch of heavy industry where hydrogen can find its application. Iron ore occurs naturally in oxidised forms: to «extract» oxygen from iron ores, ferrous metal producers use carbon from coking coal, which is accompanied by a large amount of emissions. Hydrogen-based recovery of iron ore could reduce CO2 emissions. The Indian ArcelorMittal plans to use this technology at its production facilities in Belgium, Spain and France so that to reduce by 35% its own emissions in Europe by 2030.
Mauritania is not the only country in Africa planning to become a major supplier of hydrogen. Earlier, Namibia announced its intention to build the facilities for production of 300,000 tons of green hydrogen per year. The $9.4 billion project to be implemented by 2020’s will be in Cao Heb Park on the Atlantic Ocean. Hydrogen will be converted into ammonia there, and then exported to foreign markets.
