Senegal Seeks Grid Stability with Two Solar Projects

Senegal is moving towards hybrid energy solutions combining solar generation with battery storage, as part of the national government’s plan to improve grid stability. 

According to social media posts made by state utility Senelec earlier in April, it detailed that it had launched two major energy projects in Diass and Linguère.

The first project is the installation of the country’s first battery energy storage system (BESS) alongside the Diass solar plant, southeast of Dakar. 

The project, valued at 36 million euros, co-financed by both the German development bank KfW and the French Development Agency (AFD). The system will include 30 battery containers and 360 converters, with a storage capacity exceeding 20,000 MWh.

The second initiative involves the groundbreaking of a hybrid energy facility in the northwest of the capital Linguère, consisting of a 50 MWp solar plant paired with a 30 MW storage system with a capacity of 90 MWh.

The facility, developed in partnership with Huawei and Genertec CNTIC, is expected to supply electricity to about 90,000 households in the nation. 

However, the financing terms and a commissioning date were not disclosed as of press time. 

As seen in the posts by Senelec, both projects are intended to strengthen grid stability. “A concrete step forward to reinforce Senegal’s energy independence, accelerate the transition to renewable energy, and ensure a sustainable future for future generations,” the company stated.

The projects align with the objectives of Senegal’s National Energy Pact, developed under the Mission 300 framework, which targets a 40% share of renewables in the electricity mix.

Dakar aims to achieve universal electricity access by 2029, up from 84% currently, while expanding generation capacity by 2030 as part of its renewable energy strategy.