The project concerns the development of a hybrid power project consisting of a 30MW ground-based photovoltaic (PV) power generation plant and a 15MW/45MWh Battery Energy Storage System in Senegal. The Project will be the first of its kind in Senegal.
Senegal supports regional energy cooperation as a member of the West African Power Pool (WAPP) and is a member of regional organizations to develop hydroelectricity resources on the Senegal (OMVS – Senegal River Basin Development Organization) and Gambia (OMVG – Gambia River Basin Development Organization) rivers.
Phase One’s 16 turbines began supplying 50 MW of electricity to Senegal’s grid in December 2019, while additional phases since July 2021 add 108 MW, increasing the country’s electricity supply by 15 percent.
Due to dependence on expensive liquid fuels for 90 percent of power generation, Senegal has some of the highest generation costs in Africa. While electricity generation costs range from 34 to 38 cents per kilowatt hour, consumers pay roughly 24 cents per kilowatt hour with the difference covered by government subsidies.
The Government of Senegal is committed to diversifying its energy mix by adding solar and increasing wind to the grid. While awaiting first gas in 2023, the government hopes to import LNG as a bridging measure and convert all current HFO plants to gas-to-power plants.
Senegal is also committed to renewable energy resources, with approximately one-third of its energy mix coming from renewables. In February 2020, President Sall officially inaugurated the first phase of the Taiba Ndiaye Wind Park, Senegal’s first utility-scale wind project which, when completed, will be the largest in West Africa.
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