WASHINGTON, JUNE 6, 2024 -The World Bank''s Board of Executive Directors approved a $35 million grant to enable solar power generation and increase access to electricity in Guinea-Bissau.
The Guinea-Bissau Solar Energy Scale-up and Access Project will work on the development of solar energy generation and network enhancement, including the preparation and implementation for utility-scale solar parks and upgrade and expansion of solar grid infrastructure. It will also feature a component of capacity building and technical assistance to the Ministry of Energy and to the national utility company, Electricity and Water of Guinea-Bissau (EAGB).
"Improving infrastructure and services for inclusive growth are key priorities of the World Bank''s work in Guinea-Bissau. The Solar Energy Scale-up and Access Project will consolidate and complement three other ongoing projects in the energy sector, which are crucial for sustainable development," said Anne-Lucie Lefebvre, World Bank Resident Representative in Guinea-Bissau. "At the moment, only 33% of Guinea-Bissau''s population has access to electricity, and around 58% in the capital city Bissau. Electricity is not only scarce but also very costly, making it among the most expensive in Africa. The country has large and untapped solar resources, which would be the least cost and fastest approach to solve the power supply gap."
The project is expected to benefit residential, commercial, and industrial consumers all over Guinea-Bissau, including on the islands. It will also support the Government''s efforts to create an enabling environment for private sector participation, as well as spur economic growth and create green jobs.
The Solar Energy Scale-up and Access Project will be implemented until June 2030, and will benefit from $35 million grant financing from the International Development Association (IDA), $10.5 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and $2.65 million from the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP).
A solar power plant with a capacity of between 20 and 30 MW is currently being planned with the support of the World Bank, which is now seeking consultants to carry out a feasibility study for the project.
Image: Flickr/Teseum
The World Bank has launched a tender to seek consultancy companies interested in carrying out a feasibility study for the construction of a solar-plus-storage solar park in Guinea Bissau, West Africa.
The international financial institution said the project will have a power range of 20 MW to 30 MW, and that it will aim to stabilize power supply in the country, as well as providing additional lower cost generation.
The feasibility study will represent Phase I of the project, while Phase II will include the launch of a tender for the design and construction of the power plant.
The deadline to submit bids for Phase I is April 10, 2018. The selected consultant is expected to carry out a GIS analysis to assess land constraints and propose up to three sites for project development with input from the local government, the World Bank said in the tender document.
The inclusion of a storage system in the project was conceived to provide grid stabilization, extend power generation to evening hours, and provide ancillary services to the grid, it added. The solar facility will sell power to the national utility EAGB under a long-term PPA.
Guinea Bissau, which has one of the lowest electrification rates and highest electric service costs in Africa has, to date, not seen much progress in the field of solar energy. Currently, it covers around 90% of its demand with imported petroleum fuels and power imports from Senegal.
According to a recent report from the same World Bank, the local government should now concentrate investments on rehabilitating and removing bottlenecks in the existing power network, while also adjusting energy prices to reflect the real economic cost of imported fuels. Furthermore, the report reveals that over half of the installed generation capacity is out of service, and that around 40% of the produced electricity is currently being lost (or stolen) in the distribution network.
According to another recent report from the African Development Bank, the country has only 11 MW of installed generation capacity, almost all of which is represented by conventional thermal generation. "Real capacity is only 8 MW, only 5 MW of which is available 24 hours per day due to the maintenance required and the inability of the electric power utility to obtain the necessary fuel," the report''s authors stressed.
"The amount of energy supplied falls far short of the country''s requirements estimated at 30 MW," they further explain.
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The Solar Energy Development and Electricity Access Project will see the construction of several solar power plants and battery storage units with private sector involvement. A 30 MW solar power plant will be developed near the capital, Bissau, to reduce electricity costs and diversify the energy mix.
Battery storage will initially help stabilize the power supply and later offer additional services to the electricity system, according to the Ministry of the Economy, Planning, and Regional Integration of Guinea-Bissau.
Emphasizing the project''s crucial role in advancing inclusive growth through enhanced infrastructure and services, the World Bank Resident Representative in Guinea-Bissau, Anne-Lucie Lefebvre highlighted its significance. Currently, only 33% of Guinea-Bissau''s population has access to electricity, with the capital city of Bissau facing particularly high costs.The Solar Energy Scale-up and Access Project is expected to benefit residential, commercial, and industrial consumers nationwide — including those on the islands. It aligns with the government''s strategy to encourage private sector participation, stimulate economic growth, and create sustainable job opportunities.
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