A man stands in front of a rurally located solar plant. © GIZ

Promoting renewable energies in Senegal

Programme for sustainable energy (PED II)

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  • Client

    German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

  • Country
  • Political sponsors

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  • Runtime

    2022 to 2025

  • Products and expertise

    Sustainable infrastructure: water, energy, transport

A group of men and women gather around a solar dryer in a village.
GIZ

Context

Senegal aims to supply its entire population with electricity by 2025 and reduce its dependency on energy imports. Given the global climate crisis, it is important to meet the growing demand for energy with low-emission sources. At the same time, the country faces major challenges. In 2022, only about half of rural households had access to electricity, and prices remain high. Additionally, electricity is often used inefficiently. Consequently, in June 2023, Senegal and the International Partners Group announced the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), that supports the transition to clean energy while addressing social and economic considerations. As part of this commitment, Senegal aims to increase the share of renewable energy in its electricity mix and ensure fair, affordable, and universal energy access.

Objective

The Ministry of Energy, Petroleum and Mines (MEPM) in Senegal has successfully implemented reforms to promote renewable and climate-friendly energy.

Aerial view of a solar plant that provides electricity for a mill and a husking machine for cereals in rural regions.
GIZ

Approach

The project supports the MEPM in realigning energy policies and implementing national strategies. Its goal is to promote renewable energy growth and enhance energy efficiency, in line with JETP’s priorities and global objectives under the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) of the United Nations. Important measures include:

  • Advising on laws and regulations for renewable energy and energy efficiency.
  • Introducing a tax exemption, certifications, and equipment labelling.
  • Ensuring fair access to electricity in rural areas by  promoting fairer tariffs and promoting off-grid solutions.
  • Launching pilot projects with public and private actors and scaling up the most successful solutions for the productive use of renewable energy.  

Additionally, the project supports the JETP by:

  • Advising MEPM on the institutional and regulatory framework to promote renewable energy readiness and identifying necessary investments.
  • Supporting energy access through the expansion of grid-connected renewable energies and promoting energy efficiency measures in transport, refrigeration, and public lightning.
Two women work behind a solar-powered flour mill.
GIZ

Last update: July 2024

Additional information