Assessing H₂ storage as a fast, modular and financeable solution for blackout risk and on‑demand low‑carbon power in Mauritius
BnA IQ- Research
Mauritius stands at an inflection point. As the island’s electricity system strains under rising demand, ageing thermal plants, and a narrowing reserve margin, even a single 30 MW outage has proven enough to trigger national appeals for restraint. Against this fragile backdrop, Bramston IQ’s latest research makes a compelling and quietly urgent case: hydrogen-based long-duration storage may well be the most credible insurance policy Mauritius can deploy to safeguard its energy future.
Drawing on official national datasets, global technology benchmarks, and lessons from fellow island systems, the study reframes hydrogen not as a silver-bullet energy source but as a resilience asset—a fast, modular and financeable buffer capable of absorbing multi-hour or multi-day shocks that would otherwise cripple a service-driven economy. Batteries excel at minutes; hydrogen stands firm for days.
The research finds that when evaluated through the lens of avoided blackouts—events that often cost nations tens of millions of dollars—hydrogen becomes economically rational, even conservative. It is less an experiment than a prudent hedge, one aligned with the realities of island vulnerability, fuel import exposure, and accelerating renewable integration.
The report calls for a measured, phased pathway: begin with a modest 5–10 MW pilot to build local know-how, evolve towards a 30–60 MW Hydrogen Resilience Reserve, and reform the regulatory landscape to treat storage as a strategic asset in its own right. In parallel, the study underscores the need for clear reliability metrics, modernised licensing, strengthened safety standards, and a coordinated governance body to steer implementation.
Above all, this work is a reminder that resilience is not built by chance. It is built by design—through foresight, evidence, and the quiet courage to prepare before the lights flicker. Mauritius has an opportunity to lead the region in this regard. The question is no longer whether hydrogen can work, but whether we can afford to overlook it.
