Renewable energy in Senegal

Energy context and solar potential

Located at the westernmost tip of the African continent, Senegal enjoys one of the most promising renewable energy resources in the sub-region. Its greatest asset is an exceptional level of sunshine: solar irradiation is generally cited at around 5 to 6 kWh/m²/day (often estimated at roughly 5.4 kWh/m²/day), with approximately 3,000 hours of sunshine per year. Spread across almost the entire territory, this is a first-rate resource for photovoltaic electricity generation, whether grid-connected or decentralised.

Beyond the sun, the country holds other renewable resources. The Grande Côte, the Atlantic seaboard north of Dakar, offers a notable wind potential thanks to steady wind patterns. Senegal also has a hydropower component, driven in particular by the Manantali dam on the Senegal River, operated within the regional cooperation framework of the OMVS (Organisation for the Development of the Senegal River). This diversity of resources paves the way for an electricity mix that is progressively cleaner and more resilient.

The energy mix and transition objectives

Historically, Senegalese electricity generation has been dominated by thermal power, long based on heavy fuel oil and then gradually incorporating natural gas. The national utility SENELEC remains the central operator of the power system, responsible for transmission and distribution, and it purchases electricity from a growing number of independent power producers.

In recent years, public authorities have clearly signalled their intent to increase the share of renewables in this mix. The goal is twofold: to reduce dependence on imported fuels, a source of cost volatility, and to support fast-growing electricity demand. The transition is not about abruptly replacing the existing fleet, but about diversifying sources and giving renewables a structural role as the technologies become more competitive. This ambition is embedded in the dynamic of the Plan Sénégal Émergent (PSE) and the national energy policy, which pair a higher renewable share with the objective of universal access to electricity.

Key stakes: energy access and green jobs

Access to electricity remains a central challenge. While the electrification rate has improved substantially in recent years, disparities persist, particularly between urban centres and rural areas, where extending the conventional grid can be costly and slow. Renewables offer well-suited answers here: solar mini-grids and decentralised solutions — individual solar kits and systems for schools, health posts or farms — deliver a reliable electricity service where grid connection is not immediately feasible. These approaches contribute directly to the goal of universal access to clean, affordable energy.

The sector is also a powerful engine for the local economy. The rollout of solar and wind installations creates green jobs across the value chain — from study and design to installation, operation and maintenance. Realising this potential depends on a skilled, well-structured workforce, which is precisely where the professionalisation of installers, engineering firms and trainers becomes decisive.

The regulatory framework

Renewable energy development in Senegal sits within a legal and institutional framework reshaped by several reforms over the past two decades. As early as 2010, the country adopted orientation laws on renewable energy and on energy management, setting out principles such as purchase obligations and connection conditions, alongside fiscal and customs measures to lower the cost of solar equipment. The Electricity Code adopted in 2021 then modernised the sector, clarifying the separation between generation, transmission and distribution and easing the entry of independent power producers (IPPs), whose power purchase agreements (PPAs) with the national utility form the cornerstone of large solar projects.

Several specialised agencies steer and support the sector. The CRSE regulates tariffs and licences; the ASER leads rural electrification; the ANER promotes renewable energy development; and the AEME drives energy efficiency — working alongside SENELEC and the ministry in charge of energy.

Major projects

Senegal is among the West African countries that have turned renewable ambitions into reality most quickly. Several utility-scale solar plants have been commissioned, including:

• the Bokholplant (Senergy project), often cited as one of the country’s first large-scale solar plants;
• the Ten Merina and Malicounda plants, which strengthened grid-connected solar capacity;
• the Scaling Solar projects at Kahone and Touba, noted for particularly competitive electricity tariffs.

Wind energy is well represented by the Taïba Ndiaye wind farm, with a capacity of around 158 MW, considered one of the largest in West Africa and commissioned around 2020. These achievements show that renewables are no longer pilot projects but now make a tangible contribution to the national grid.

The role of REPER-SÉNÉGAL

In this favourable context, professionalising the players is decisive. That is the mission of Réseau des Professionnels des Énergies Renouvelables du Sénégal(REPER-SÉNÉGAL): to structure the sector, unite professionals and support its rise in quality. By bringing together installers, engineering firms, importers, trainers and project developers, the network fosters the sharing of best practices, defends the profession’s interests and sustains dialogue with institutions — helping make the renewable momentum a lasting success that serves the country’s development and access to clean energy for all.