The potential for the development of offshore wind energy in Mauritius exists, however, it is important to take into consideration environmental aspects such as cyclones and tsunamis and the coral reef, as well as respecting the different phases of the supply chain, according to GE Renewable Energy’s Gautier de Martene.
De Martene, who oversees strategic marketing for GE’s offshore wind activities, made these remarks in his presentation, ”Offshore Wind energy projects – roadblocks and challenges” , held during a recent workshop on the Indian Ocean island state’s offshore wind potential.
In his presentation, de Martene said that the country’s wind regime which stands at 100 metres is equal to about 350 watt of square metres, and that most regions around the island are above the average of the required 350 square metres.
This is enough to deliver a good quantity of offshore wind electricity to make it competitive, according to de Martene. He also identified three potential locations for exploitation of offshore wind at Flic en Flac, Mahebourg, and Rodrigues.
Preliminary research on offshore wind in the waters of Mauritius has yielded encouraging results and it is against this backdrop that the Mauritius Research Council (MRC) and the U.S. Embassy in Mauritius organised the workshop.
The objective was to add to the ongoing research for the effective development of the country’s marine renewable energy sector and help Mauritius assess offshore wind power based on the real-world experience of international companies.
The discussions are expected to help the country meet or exceed its target of 35% of electricity production from renewable energy sources by 2025.