West africa shared energy storage power plant operation

Is universal electricity access a global challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa?

Achieving universal electricity access is a global challenge and an urgent priority in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Western and Central Africa, only 52 percent of the population had access to electricity in 2020.

Why is Power pooling important in West Africa?

The relaxed transmission scenario yields higher dispatch factors for renewables. Power pooling has emerged as a regional strategy for accelerating generation capacity expansion in West Africa with the aim of leveraging vast domestic energy resources and promoting investment in regional power infrastructure.

Is West Africa on the cusp of a regional power market?

“West Africa is on the cusp of a regional power market that promises significant development benefits and potential for private sector participation,” stated Charles Cormier, Practice Manager in the Energy Global Practice at the World Bank.

What is the electricity gap in Sub-Saharan Africa?

This gap remains enormous in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in rural and isolated areas. Nearly 600 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa live without access to electricity, representing nearly 83% of the world’s unelectrified population.

Can Africa close the energy-access gap?

Photo: Vincent Tremeau One of the resounding messages of the recent Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit was that closing the energy-access gap—for electricity and clean cooking— is possible. This gap remains enormous in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in rural and isolated areas.

What is the West African Power Pool (WAPP)?

One key initiative is the West African Power Pool (WAPP), which is helping boost energy electricity supply in 14 countries, benefiting 57 percent (more than 244 million people) of the population in West Africa.