A Hybrid AHP–Evidential Reasoning Framework for Multi-Criteria Assessment of Wind-Based Green Hydrogen Production Scenarios on the Northern Coast of Mauritania

The northern coast of Mauritania presents a strategic opportunity for clean energy investment due to its remarkable potential for green hydrogen production through wind energy. To determine the best location for wind-based green hydrogen production, this paper established a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making framework (MCDM) that combines the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Evidential Reasoning (ER) to assess five coastal sites: Nouakchott, Nouamghar, Tasiast, Boulanoir, and Nouadhibou. Four main criteria (i.e., economic, technical, environmental, and social) and twelve sub-criteria were taken into account in the assessment. To ensure reliability and contextual accuracy, the data used in this study were obtained from geographic databases, peer-reviewed literature, and structured expert questionnaires. The results indicate that site 5 (Nouadhibou) is the most suitable location for green hydrogen generation using wind energy. Sensitivity analysis confirms the robustness of the ranking results, validating the reliability of the proposed hybrid framework. The findings of this study provide critical, data-driven decision-support insights for investors and policymakers, guiding the strategic development of sustainable wind-based green hydrogen projects along Mauritania’s coastline.