SOLAR ENERGY IN WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIESpossibilities and oportunities by Rui Duarte Barros

1. SOLAR ENERGY IN WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES
POSSIBILITIES AND OPORTUNITIESby Rui Duarte Barros
Jan, 2016
the sun is
free
le soleil
est gratuit
el sol es
gratis
o sol é
gratis
"‫إن‬
‫الشمس‬
‫الحرة‬ ‫هي‬
'

2. SOLAR ENERGY IN WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES
POSSIBILITIES AND OPORTUNITIESby Rui Duarte Barros
Jan, 2016
EconomicsblocsinAfrica
UEMOA
ECOWAS

3. SOLAR ENERGY IN WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES
POSSIBILITIES AND OPORTUNITIES
The West Africa region it consist of Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) and States from West African Economic and Monetary Union
(UEMOA) with a population of nearly 300 million people, about a third of the
continent's population, has one of the rate energy consumption lowest in the world.
In 2009-2010, it was estimated that almost 175 million people had no access to
electricity, 25% living in urban areas and 75% in rural areas. In some countries, less
than 10% of the rural population have access to electricity.
by Rui Duarte Barros
Jan, 2016
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries is formed by 15 countries.
(where 8 countries are from UEMOA)
ECOWAS countries
(Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d Ivoire,
Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal,
Togo, Gambia, Liberia, Guiné, Nigeria,
Ghana, Cape Vert, Sera Leone)

4. SOLAR ENERGY IN WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES
POSSIBILITIES AND OPORTUNITIES
70% of the population of the West African Economic and Monetary Union
(UEMOA) (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal,
Togo) that is 74,2 million inhabitants still live without access to electricity. The
current state of the energy system hinders the social, economic and industrial
development of the sub-region.
by Rui Duarte Barros
Jan, 2016
8 countries share the same currency F CFA
( 1 Euro = 655,957 F CFA)
UEMOA Countries
(Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d Ivoire,
Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal,
Togo.

5. SOLAR ENERGY IN WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES
POSSIBILITIES AND OPORTUNITIESby Rui Duarte Barros
Jan, 2016
Africa and Madagascar have excellent solar potential, with the most favorable areas in Eastern Sahara and the Horn of Africa. However, Gabon,
Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon and Congo have the lowest solar resource in Africa in places with average insolation of 3.5 kWh / m² / year on the
ground.

6. SOLAR ENERGY IN WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES
POSSIBILITIES AND OPORTUNITIESby Rui Duarte Barros
Jan, 2016
In West Africa, the solar potential is strongest in the Sahel (Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea Conakry and Guinea Bissau,
Liberia, Niger, Chad) and in the coastal area overlooking the Gulf of Guinea (Sierra Leone Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo,
Benin and Nigeria). The wetter climate of these countries slight disadvantage solar radiation available on the ground

7. SOLAR ENERGY IN WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES
POSSIBILITIES AND OPORTUNITIES
INTRODUCTION:
 An average American emits 17 tons of CO2 per year, a Qatari 42 tons and West Africa 0.3
tons. Yet, it is the African who suffers, and will suffer even more in the future, adverse effects
of climate change in progress.
 The low power consumption of the West African countries, combined with the available
solar radiation in those countries give the opportunity for them to become in short time
autonomous in energy. (For example, a city like Dakar receives almost 2 times more
sunshine than Paris, when a Senegalese consumes 20 times less primary energy than
French).
 In West Africa, the solar potential is strongest in the Sahel (Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea
Conakry and Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Niger, Chad) and in the coastal area overlooking the
Gulf of Guinea (Sierra Leone Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria). The wetter
climate of these countries slight disadvantage solar radiation available on the ground.
 Africa and Madagascar have excellent solar potential, with the most favorable areas in
Eastern Sahara and the Horn of Africa. However, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon and
Congo have the lowest solar resource in Africa in places with average insolation of 3.5 kWh /
m² / year on the ground.
by Rui Duarte Barros
Jan, 2016

8. SOLAR ENERGY IN WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES
POSSIBILITIES AND OPORTUNITIES
 The West African States Economic Community (ECOWAS) is facing significant
challenges in terms of energy supply. Despite the vast energy resources of its 15
Member States, the region has an overall rate of access to modern energy very low.
 In the context of the severe energy crisis that is facing the West African States
Economic Community (ECOWAS), the fifteen Member States have expressed the
need to integrate renewable energy and energy efficiency their national policies
 The West African States Economic Community (ECOWAS) leaders understood that
the renewable energy is the best response to African energy crisis.
• The energy deficit faced by West African States Economic Community (ECOWAS)
Countries is increasing over the years. So, in the medium term, the independent
producers of renewable energy is expected to bring a large part of the solution.
by Rui Duarte Barros
Jan, 2016

9. SOLAR ENERGY IN WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES
POSSIBILITIES AND OPORTUNITIES
Somes Projets and Initiatives in West Africa:
• SE4ALL: "An affordable energy, reliable and sustainable for all“ Launched by Ban Ki-moon,
Secretary General of the United Nations in September 2012, SE4ALL initiative (Sustainable
energy for all) has set a target of 2030 to provide access to energy for all, doubling energy
efficiency and doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix to increase to
30%. The African SE4ALL platform is hosted by the African Development Bank. Its
coordinator, DanielAlexander Schroth, takes stock of actions already taken and defines its
future goals.
• Launch of the African Group Leaders of Energy - West Africa Hotel Ivoire, Abidjan, June 30,
2015 by President Alassane Ouattara. The Hub SE4All Africa hosted the African
Development Bank (ADB) in partnership with the African Union Commission, the NEPAD
Agency and UNDP facilitates the implementation of the Initiative in Africa.
• West Africa Economic and Monetary Union defines as its priority the use of green energy. The
West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) is exposed to a major energy crisis,
since 70% of its population still live without access to electricity. Ain the near future is
expected the installation of a photovoltaic solar power plant of 10 MW in each of the eight
UEMOA countries
by Rui Duarte Barros
Jan, 2016

10. SOLAR ENERGY IN WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES
POSSIBILITIES AND OPORTUNITIES
Somes Projets and Initiatives in West Africa (cont):
• Solar power plant in operation "Sheikh Zayed" 15 MW in Mauritania ABU DHABI, United
Arab Emirates - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Masdar, the renewable energy company of Abu Dhabi,
it covers 10% of energy capacity Mauritania and it save 6,000,000 liters of diesel and reduce
the emission of carbon dioxide by more than 16,000 tons per year.
• The development agency owned by the British government CDC Group and Norfund, the
Norwegian investment fund for developing countries, announced their alliance in the
electricity sector in Africa. CDC and Norfund combine to finance the production of 5000 MW
of additional electricity in Africa. Norfund and CDC Group also indicated that they will meet
their business in sub-Saharan Africa, where approximately 32% of households only have
access to electricity.
• The French subsidiary of Total, SunPower will participate in the construction of two solar
power plants worth $ 100 million in northern Ghana. The two facilities will each have a
capacity of 20 MW and will cost 40 to 50 million dollars each. The works will last two years.
• The Government of Burkina Faso is building a 20 MW solar power plant in Windinga with a
grant of 900 000 USD by SEFA.
• Mali is building a school of Solar Engineering for African students.
by Rui Duarte Barros
Jan, 2016

11. SOLAR ENERGY IN WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES
POSSIBILITIES AND OPORTUNITIES
Somes Projets and Initiatives in West Africa (cont):
• Nigeria and Firstgate Business Intermediaries Ltd (FBI) concluded a framework agreement for
the installation of a solar power plant with a capacity of 1,000 MW, which will extend over 2700
hectares in Kogi State.
• The World Bank group announced the launch of the initiative "Scaling Solar", which aims to create
a sustainable market for large solar projects in the private sector Africa. This is helping governments
to increase the supply for millions of households and businesses across the continent.
• Chaired by Abdelkader Amara, Moroccan Minister of Energy, Mines, Water, and Environment, three
Moroccan groups (FinanceCom, Akwa Group and Sofinam) created Green alliance of Africa,
including the goal is to develop projects in the field of renewable energy in Africa.
• A15 MW solar power plant with an area of 100 hectares will soon be built in the municipality of
Malicounda in Senegal as part of a 25-year concession contract between the national company
Senelec and investors. This solar power project of 15 MW, at a cost of 30 billion CFA francs, will be
financed by Germany.
• Akuo Energy recently signed with the Government of the Republic of Mali a concession agreement
and a purchase agreement for the construction and operation of the project Kita. Kita is a solar
power plant of 50 MW located one hundred kilometers northwest of Bamako. The concession
agreement signed with the Government of the Malian state is structured according to the model
"BOOT" ("Build Own Operate and Transfer").
by Rui Duarte Barros
Jan, 2016

12. SOLAR ENERGY IN WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES
POSSIBILITIES AND OPORTUNITIES
Somme Potential Financal organisations:
 The World Bank group announced the launch of the initiative "Scaling Solar", which aims to create a
sustainable market for large solar projects in the private sector Africa. This is helping governments to
increase the supply for millions of households and businesses across the continent.
 The Hub SE4All Africa hosted the African Development Bank (ADB) in partnership with the African Union
Commission, the NEPAD Agency and UNDP facilitates the implementation of the Initiative in Africa.
 BOAD – Banque Ouest Africaine de Devepopement.
 The British government CDC Group and Norfund, the Norwegian investment fund .
 FAGACE – Fonds Africain de Garantie et Cooperation Economique.
 UNDP (small projets)
 SFI – World Bank
 BEI – Banque Europen d’Investissement (European Investment Bank)
 EU - European Union Commission
 COP21 (secretariat) (United Nations)
by Rui Duarte Barros
Jan, 2016

13. END
Rui Duarte Barros
ruiduartebarros@yahoo.com
ruiduartebarros@Hotmail.com
ruiduartebarros@gmail.com
CP-135 Bissau.
Guine-Bissau
When we electrify an entire community, it becomes
more attractive. Access to energy can illuminate a
health center - women no longer give birth in the dark -
to power refrigerators for vaccines, to equipping
schools or installing outdoor lighting which offers some
security. All this also promotes the development of
income-generating activities.