CWP Global has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Mauritania on green hydrogen, potentially worth $40 billion.
CWP, which has renewable energy projects in Europe and Australia, has set out plans for a solar and wind project it calls Aman. It will locate this in the north of Mauritania, covering a site of around 8,500 square km.
The company said this would be the “world’s biggest renewable energy project”. It involves the export of green hydrogen and its derivatives.
Mauritanian Minister of Petroleum, Mines and Energy Abdelsalam Mohamed Saleh said the country had “put the exploitation of its immense renewable resources as a top priority in line with the commitment of his excellency the President of the Republic to promote accelerated, sustainable, and equitable economic growth for all the people of Mauritania”.
Saleh went on to express gratitude to CWP and its CEO, Mark Crandall “for his trust and express its unwavering commitment” to the proposed project.
CWP has said Mauritania is one of the best places on the plant to produce low-cost green hydrogen.
Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, speaking last week, said the country had “one of the best wind and solar potentials on the continent. The low population density and our geographical position give us a real comparative advantage in the development of renewable energies.”
Roadmap
Mauritania is also working on a roadmap for green hydrogen production and decarbonising the energy sector.
“The roadmap also includes the development of an incentive legal and regulatory framework to stimulate foreign and national investment in renewable energies and hydrogen production as well as a national skills development plan,” he said.
Aman will consist of 30 GW of solar and wind powering electrolysers.
CWP’s Crandall welcomed the support from the Mauritanian government. The project will “create a stable export vector and generate thousands of new jobs in construction, local manufacturing, operations and export facilitation”.
It will transform Mauritania, he continued. Aman will change the country’s economy, it said. The project will generate “billions of dollars” through exports. It will also provide “access to inexpensive electricity and water for the population and economy”.
Crandall held talks with the Mauritanian president on May 28.
CWP went on to note the potential for hydrogen in various sectors, including green steel production, shipping and agriculture.
The company did not disclose plans around financing. Germany has been active in seeking new opportunities to secure hydrogen supplies, particularly from Africa.
CWP is also involved in a major hydrogen project in Australia.
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