This paper reviews local and bio-sourced materials for construction through their thermomechanical characteristics, but with an emphasis on their thermal conductivity that allows us to assess the thermal performance (insulation) of these materials. Then, we discuss the energy problems in Mauritania, while highlighting the local and bio-sourced materials existing in this country. These materials could be an alternative to solve these energy problems. Finally, we focus on the thermal performance of Typha Australis, a plant that grows abundantly in fresh water mainly in Senegal and Mauritania, which would have good advantages over the thermal performance of the building.

This study presents the elaboration and characterization of a composite material based on Typha australis and clay for the use of an innovative building material in construction. For this purpose, various percentages ranging from 0 to 55% with a pitch of 15 were used. The aim is to find a better compromise between the thermal and mechanical properties of this composite material. According to this, the influence of the length of the 1 cm and 3 cm fibers was studied. As Typha australis is very porous, the hydric properties of the material studied in this work show that its porosity increases the rate of water absorption following a logarithmic law and the mass loss of the composite material evolves exponentially as a function of time. The mass increases when the percentage of fibers is low. The thermophysical property of Typha australis is 0.06 W/m K. That property allows us to state that Typha australis can be used for thermal insulation. The thermophysical properties of the composite material show that the thermal conductivity decreases as the percentage and length of fibers increase. In fact, the thermal conductivity of the clay is 1.03 W/m K while the mixture of clay with 55% of 1 cm fibers gave a thermal conductivity of 0.146 W/m K. The mixture of clay with the same percentage of 3 cm fibers gave a thermal conductivity of 0.113 W/m K. Nevertheless, the fibers have a negative effect on the mechanical properties and the increase in the length of the fibers improves the flexural strength.

For decades, Mauritania's economy has been fueled by thermal power.  As a developing economy, Mauritania's electricity demand has long been relatively low, though it has increased recently due to economic growth, urbanization, and industrial activities. The rapid growth in demand is making the country more dependent on oil and gas-based generation power plants, which a resultant drain on the national economy. However, Mauritania has abundant renewable energy potential. the deployment of renewable energy can be an alternative solution to reduce the dependence on fossil resources. In this paper, we have reviewed the situation of the power generation sector, the potential of renewable energy, the integration of renewable energy in Mauritania's energy mix and the mitigation potential. The installed capacity in 2018 is 415.5 MW. The percentage of thermal power plants is 59.8% and 40.2% of the integrated capacity is provided by renewable energy. In 2018, the total electric power generation was 1958.5 GWh, the contribution of renewable energy was 979.75 GWh. The IPCC 2006 methodology was used to estimate GHG emissions. The results showed that the integration of renewable energy into the country's energy mix reduced emissions by approximately 212.58 Gg CO2eq.