Accelerating the transformational shift to a low-carbon economy in the Republic of Mauritius

Helping Mauritius mainstream renewable energy and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. With imported fossil fuels supplying 84 percent of Mauritius’ primary energy requirements, the country is vulnerable to outside energy shocks, like many other Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Also, greenhouse gas emissions are increasing at a rate of 3 percent per year, while the country’s energy generation mix is dominated by imports of coal (39 percent) and fuel oil (38 percent). This project is aimed at enabling the Government of Mauritius to meet its target of using renewables to supply 35 percent of the country’s energy needs by 2025. This is part of a broad national strategy to reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels – to enhance energy security and climate change mitigation, and to improve the country’s balance of payments. The project will remove bottlenecks to investments in low-carbon development in two phases:  Phase 1: Supporting grid-connected, intermittent renewable energy; and Phase 2: Establishing a photovoltaic mini-power grid for Mauritius’ principle outer island, Agalega.  The project’s first phase (2017-2019) will strengthen the ability of the energy grid to use electricity generated by renewables and support institutional strengthening through the operationalization of the Mauritius Renewable Energy Agency (MARENA). The second phase (2020-2024) will draw upon lessons learned during the first phase to accelerate the deployment of solar energy in Agalega. The ability to supply clean energy to a remote island like Agalega is a good example that can be replicated in other SIDS. The project has an estimated lifespan of 20 years.