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Sub-Saharan Africa, and in particular Mozambique, has considerable potential of salinity gradient energy, which could foster coastal development. However, the lack of scientific based information hinders the development of policies and investments in harnessing this source of energy in Sub-Saharan Africa. The present study, used historical data of temperature and salinity and estimated the potential of salinity gradient power in four main estuaries in Mozambique. The theoretical salinity gradient power ranged, on average, from 843.6 MW, in Incomati River estuary to 2,800.0 MW in Zambezi Delta. The Bons Sinais Estuary and Limpopo Estuary had 1,086.8 MW and 1292.0 MW, on average, respectively. The salinity power estimated in the Mozambique estuaries studied was above the maximum power densities for electrodialysis osmotic energy storage systems, which is set at 5 W m−2, and has potential extractable energy of about 3,000MW, and could benefit about 2 million coastal rural households (about 7% of the total Mozambican population) on irrigation and lighting houses. Further studies may be focused in determining the seasonal and salinity intrusion effects on salinity power gradient in the Mozambican estuaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waves generated by winds can transport a large amount of energy across the oceans with little loss. This paper explores the satellite-based data to assess the wave energy potential of Kenitra- Atlantic coastal area (Morocco), with an overall purpose of supporting the plans for developing and using wave energy, and provide guidance about the appropriate applications of wave energy of the Kenitra coastal area. Kenitra is important harbour and industrial city in Morocco. Various indexes, including the temporal distributions of wave parameters and wave energy fluxes, the occurrence of the effective significant wave height and wave energy flux, the variability and frequency of the wave status, were calculated from satellite measured weekly wave data, covering about 3 years (June 2019-November 2022) period. Results indicated that the area is characterized by moderate energy compared to South Africa, the most energetic site in the continent, with average wave significant wave of 1.6 ± 0.7, average wave period of 8.4 ± 2.4 s, average wave energy flux of 11.7 ± 14.0 kW m-1 and with the rate of variability of 28-45%. High energy above the threshold (> 10kW m-1) for viable electricity production, applying turbines directly powered by waves, occurs only during the northern hemisphere winter (December-March). Hence, for off shore Kenitra, the study recommends other applications for wave energy other than electricity production through wave powered turbines, such as, reverse osmosis membrane-based electricity production technology, desalination, irrigation and water pumping for marine culture, mini-hydro and recreational. Subsequently, future studies may focus on the socio-economic viability of these wave energy applications and on developing other low energy demanding applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]