News

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).

PV systems installed in all hospitals in Cabo Verde

PV systems installed in Agostinho Neto Central Hospital in Praia

Finalized in 2018, the project Distributed Solar Energy Systems, funded by the World Bank through the Small Island Develoing States (SIDS) fund, has installed solar energy production capacity in all regional and central hospitals in the country. The project will contribute to reduce the financial resources spend by the hospitals in electricity, thus contributing to improve the medical service provided to the users. The project also contributes to increase the sustanability of the energy sector in the country, as it reduces the energy demand in a country still dominated by the high dependency on fuel imports for energy production.

Starts construction of the 158.7MW Taïba N'diaye wind farm in Senegal

The construction of the 158.7MW Taïba N'diaye wind farm in Senegal started in January 2019. The wind farm will be located in the Tivaouane Region, approximately 70km northwest of Dakar. The company Eiffage Energía in collaboration with Vestas will build the wind farm. Once operational, it will be the second large wind farm in ECOWAS region and will provide electricity to about 150,000 households.