West Africa: Advancing Renewable Energy Transition in the Sahel

Confronted with significant climate and development challenges, renewable energy access has become essential for the hundreds of millions living in the Sahel. The region, rich in potential, sees UNDP aiming to provide clean and affordable energy to over 150 million people by 2025.

Guinea: Bridging the Energy Divide

In the remote, mountainous areas of western Guinea, surrounded by dense forests and numerous watercourses, some villages appear to be stuck in time. Yet, despite these conditions, several communities in this resource-rich, rain-abundant region have successfully closed the energy gap through renewable energy solutions.

In Guinea, energy access stands at 18.1 percent, with 47.8 percent in urban areas and 2 percent in rural areas. As consumption is concentrated in urban areas, rural households have almost no access to energy.

Thanks to the construction of hydroelectric dams, hundreds of inhabitants of the villages of Firadou and Bolodou, separated by about 50 kilometres, now benefit from uninterrupted electricity supply.

"Now we have power outlets in our homes to charge our phones and use electronic devices. We have light to carry out our activities at night. We can even watch television for information or entertainment," enthuses a Firadou resident. Here, the power plant installed in 2017 and expanded in 2021 produces 43 KVA of electricity and 60 KVA in Bolodou, according to the UNDP representative in Guinea.

These renewable energy projects were initiated by young people who were tired of being disconnected and wanted to provide energy for their communities. Prototypes were first made with available resources, and subsequently, UNDP supported these local initiatives and helped them expand.