Research by the International Renewable Energy Agency finds over 397,000 settlements across the four countries could be served by mini-grids with batteries.
Solar PV-based mini-grids are integral to achieving universal electricity access in the West African nations of Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria and Senegal, according to a new report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
Titled “Unlocking battery storage potential for sustainable mini-grid electrification in West Africa,” IRENA’s report assesses the potential of solar-storage mini-grids to deliver affordable electricity access in the four nations. It says solar power is best suited to serving more than 98% of all sites identified as suitable for mini-grids, with hydropower serving less than 2% and wind suitable for less than 0.1%.
IRENA’s analysis finds solar PV mini-grids represent a near-term market of 568 MW across the four countries, with a minimum addressable market of about 42,700 settlements, serving around 21 million people.
Nigeria makes up the largest share of this near-term market capacity, at almost 400 MW of PV, followed by Burkina Faso (91.7 MW), Mali (56.3 MW) and Senegal (20.3 MW). To put these figures into wider context, IRENA says Africa’s solar PV mini-grid capacity stood at 149 MW as of last year.
