World Bank-Backed RESPITE Project Adds 35MWh Battery Storage in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone has strengthened its electricity network with the addition of 35 megawatt-hours (MWh) of battery storage under the World Bank-backed Regional Emergency Solar Power Intervention Project (RESPITE), marking another step towards expanding electricity access and improving the reliability of renewable energy supply.

Chinese energy storage and solar inverter manufacturer Sungrow Power Supply Co. Ltd. supplied the battery systems for the project, which supports two recently commissioned solar power plants, a 30-megawatt (MW) facility in Newton and a 10MW plant in Lungi.

The company said eight units of its PowerTitan Series battery energy storage system were deployed for the project. While 28MWh of storage capacity is already operational, an additional 7MWh will be added when the Newton 2 facility is connected to the national grid, increasing total storage capacity to 35MWh.

According to World Bank estimates cited by Sungrow, the RESPITE programme is expected to increase Sierra Leone's electricity access rate from 16 per cent to 36 per cent once fully implemented.

Regional project targets electricity access

Launched in 2023, RESPITE supports emergency solar power deployment in Chad, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Togo as part of broader efforts to improve electricity access across West and Central Africa.

In June, President Julius Maada Bio commissioned the Newton and Lungi solar parks, which together represent Sierra Leone's first major national-scale power generation project to enter service in almost a decade, according to Sungrow.

The battery-backed solar facilities will improve the stability of electricity supply by storing solar energy generated during the day for use during peak demand or periods of low generation. The project also reduces reliance on fossil fuel generation while supporting Sierra Leone's efforts to expand electricity access and strengthen energy security.