GRIPS commissions solar power plant in Senegal

German energy solutions provider GRIPS Energy has commissioned its first solar photovoltaic plant in Senegal.

The plant, with a capacity of 604 kWp, was constructed in Diama, a town in northern Senegal.  The project is a collaboration between GRIPS Energy and Société des cultures légumières (SCL) to provide renewable energy for SCL’s 2,000-hectare agricultural farm near the city of Saint-Louis.

According to Hamedine Ba, the technical manager of SCL, the solar plant will facilitate a significant shift towards the use of green energy and help reduce electricity costs. Additionally, during instances of load shedding, the solar park will contribute to preserving crops for local consumption and export, including to the United Kingdom.

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Solar irrigation

This development aligns with the Large-Scale Solar Applications for Agriculture (LSSAA) initiative, a joint effort between the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The LSSAA aims to promote solar irrigation in nine African countries, including Senegal, by 2025. With approximately 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, Senegal stands to benefit from this initiative, as it can help safeguard the livelihoods of rural populations vulnerable to drought.

Furthermore, neighboring Guinea also experiences the adverse effects of drought, negatively impacting the crops of small-scale farmers. In response, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) has allocated CAD 1 million (EUR 686,000) to fund the installation of solar irrigation systems in Guinea. The project, which began implementation in 2022, aims to enhance the profitability and working conditions of rural Guinean women. The Initiative prospective agricole et rurale (IPAR) is leading the project in collaboration with the Centre d’étude et de coopération internationale (CECI).

These initiatives in Senegal and Guinea highlight the growing focus on leveraging solar energy to address agricultural challenges, promote sustainability, and improve the lives of rural communities in the region.