News

Transformational Partnership: Guinea Bissau starts detailed feasibility and design works on the 20 MW Saltinho Run-Off-River Hydropower Project

Under the guiding motto "NOW OR NEVER", the Guinea Bissau Sustainable Energy International Conference, held from 6 to 7 December 2018 in Bissau, had called for USD 700 million of investment. Now, another important mile-stone has been achieved. As a result of a competetive bidding process, the consortia COBA Consultores de Engenharia e Ambiete/Artelia Eau & Environnement (Portugal) was awarded with a 1,5 million Euro contract to develop a bankable feasibility study and a detailed engineering and design study on the Saltinho Run-Off-River Hydropower Project with an estimated capacity of 20 MW. The project is located in Guinea Bissau on the Corubal River, around 100 km south-east of the capital Bissau.

The ECOWAS Renewable Energy Facility (EREF) - GN-SEC Video Impact Story

The Global Network of Regional Sustainable Energy Centers (GN-SEC) has produced a video that showcases some of the results and impacts of the ECOWAS Renewable Energy Facility (EREF) for peri-urban and rural areas. The EREF is an interesting example showcasing the benefits of regional cooperation within the GN-SEC. In 2011 the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) created the Facility with technical assistance of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and financial support of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the Spanish Agency for International Development (AECID) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Mali solar rural electrification project will develop 50 solar minigrids in its first approved stage

The Green Climate Fund board approved the Mali solar rural electrification project at its 22nd meeting in February 2019. The project is expected to provide funding to solar-based mini-grids for rural electrification, with a total investment of EUR 46.2 million of which EUR 33.64 million in high concessional sovereign loan and EUR 2 million grant for technical assistance. GCF funding will additionally mobilise EUR 10.6 million from the West African Development Bank (BOAD). The first approved stage of the project will deliver access to clean energy to 50 localities in Mali, reaching 28,300 households.

World Bank Provides Over $200 Million to Help Increase Access to Electricity in West Africa and the Sahel Region

The Board of the World Bank Group approved on April 17, 2019 a fund of $200 million to implement the Regional Off-Grid Electrification Project (ROGEP). The ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) is the leading implementing agency of the project, which aims at increasing access to electricity in West Africa and Sahel Region. The Project will increase electricity access of households and businesses, using modern stand-alone solar systems through a harmonized regional approach.

Mali signs a Power Purchase Agreement for the Sikasso PV plant

The Government of Mali awarded PowerPro to built Sikasso solar plant of 50 MW as part of a public-private partnership (PPP). PowerPro was selected to install the PV plant in a BOOT (Build, Own, Operate, Transfer). The government of the country committed to purchase the power produced by the plant, and signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with PowerPro. The national utility, Énergie du Mali (EDM), will purchase energy for 28 years.

Solar Energy to Power 1,100 Schools and Health Centers in Gambia

Gambia could be the first country in the world to ensure all of its rural schools and health centers will benefit from a reliable energy supply using solar and battery technology. This will happen through a 20-MW solar energy and 400 km distribution project as well as installation of PV off-grid systems, to transform energy access and cut costs, brought to Gambia by the European Investment Bank (EIB).