French companies Voltalia SA and Entech SE have secured a contract to develop a large-scale renewable energy project in Senegal.
The two firms will be responsible for the engineering, procurement, and construction of a 60MW solar power facility, which will also include two battery energy storage systems. Commissioned by Axian Energy, a subsidiary of the Pan-African Axian Group, the project is set to become one of the most extensive solar-plus-storage installations in West Africa.
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Energy boost
The solar farm will be constructed in the Kolda region, located in the southern part of Senegal’s Casamance area. Alongside the photovoltaic array, the facility will incorporate two battery units, each with a storage capacity of 10MW and 45MW. Entech SE will be in charge of delivering and installing the storage systems.
The project is scheduled to be operational by 2026 and aims to improve the reliability and stability of the local power grid while increasing the share of renewable energy in Senegal’s energy mix.
With an investment exceeding EUR 105 million, the project is being partly financed through international development funding. Contributions will come from the Emerging Africa & Asia Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF), the Dutch development bank FMO, and Germany’s DEG. Once completed, the solar and storage plant will play a vital role in helping Senegal reach its national goal of generating 40% of its electricity from renewable sources by the year 2030.
