Gambia solar panel double wave briquetting

Why should the Gambia invest in solar energy?

To match the rising demand and to provide sustainable and accessible energy to all Gambians, the potential for solar energy investment is immense in The Gambia. The government of The Gambia seeks to increase RE’s contribution to 40% from 2% presently in the coming years.

How does a large scale solar PV project benefit the Gambia?

The project contributes to gainful employment creation in The Gambia with 1,250 direct jobs created from the construction phase to operation and maintenance. To ensure sustainability, a three-year operations and maintenance contract (O&M) has been signed as large scale solar PV is entirely new to the sector.

Will a new solar plant increase energy demand in the Gambia?

Energy demand in The Gambia has increased by 5.5% per year in recent years and today’s connection of the new 23 MWp solar plant to the national energy grid will significantly increase Gambia’s current generation capacity of 98 MW and enable electrification of rural areas. A strong commitment

Why is NAWEC launching a solar plant in the Gambia?

This marks the first time in the Gambia’s history where a utility scale solar plant of 23 Megawatts Solar PV capacity and 8-Megawatt hours battery storage is being commissioned. This solar plant allows NAWEC to finally shift away from expensive heavy fuel oil-based generation which is costly and harmful to the environment.

Why is the World Bank partnering with the Gambia?

“The World Bank is pleased to join The Government of The Gambia to witness this remarkable milestone in the Energy Sector. This marks the first time in the Gambia’s history where a utility scale solar plant of 23 Megawatts Solar PV capacity and 8-Megawatt hours battery storage is being commissioned.

Does the Gambia have a demand tailwind?

The Gambia‘s absolute electricity consumption and per capita consumption have been steadily increasing since 2000 demonstrating the country‘s demand tailwinds. This trend is expected to continue in the near-term with a rising population and the continued expansions of businesses.