Dakar solar container outdoor power origin

Does Senegal have a solar energy sector?

Senegal's energy sector is increasingly reliant on solar power, making it essential to assess its long-term viability under changing climate conditions. This study evaluates future solar energy production in Senegal up to 2050, focusing on eight operational solar plants: Bokhol, Sakal, Malicounda, Kahone, Ten Merina, Mekhe, Ndiass, and Kael.

Do solar power plants in Senegal vary over time?

They found that Senegal experiences significant variability in solar resources over time and across different locations, depending on the year and specific site conditions. Niang et al. (2023) evaluated the seasonal performance of six solar power plants in Senegal, namely Bokhol, Sakal, Malicounda, Kahone, Ten Merina, and Mekhe.

Where are solar plants located in Senegal?

This study focuses on eight (8) solar plants, mainly located in western Senegal (Bokhol, Sakal, Malicounda, Kahone, Ten Merina, Mekhe, Ndiass, and Kael), with particular emphasis on Ten Merina, where the observation data used were collected. Ten Merina is located in the department of Tivaoune, the region of Thies (the second most populated region).

How will Senegal contribute to the energy transition?

The country's nationally determined contributions outline two main goals relating to the energy transition: increasing the share of renewable energy in the national energy mix to 40 % by 2035 and increasing the use of natural gas to replace fossil fuel power plants (CDN Senegal, 2020).