Sierra Leone Solar Power Generation and Energy Storage

Sierra Leone is taking significant steps to improve its low electricity access rate by committing to various renewable energy projects. These initiatives, driven by the country's Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy & Food Security (PI-CREF), include a major hydropower and solar PV project.

The 50MW solar capacity is expected to help avoid 53,000 tonnes of annual CO 2 emissions. The renewable energy potential in Sierra Leone is abundant, primarily in hydropower, wind and solar resources. However, it remains underutilised with up to 80% of the country's electricity generated from fossil fuels.

“Energy statistics are difficult to obtain in Sierra Leone, especially for renewable energy. Although the conventional thermal energy production and consumption patterns have been reported, no consolidated set of statistics exists for the total Energy situation of Sierra Leone.

It is delivered at a very high cost with Sierra Leone having one of the highest electricity tariffs in the sub-region. There are numerous waterfalls for hydropower and abundant sunlight for solar power generation with an estimated hydro project potential of more than 1000MW, while solar opportunities are above 240 MW.

A key part of the roadmap is to incorporate Sierra Leone's abundant renewable energy resources, ensuring a secure energy supply to rural communities and boosting the national economy. One of the most significant projects in this roadmap is the planned expansion of the Bumbuna Hydroelectric Dam.

Energy consumption in Sierra Leone is dominated by biomass, which accounts for over 80% of energy used. The largest source of biomass energy is wood fuel followed by charcoal , while the use of agricultural crop residues and bagasse in the sugar industry remains limited.