Living transformation! Guinea Bissau attracts investment in 20 MW solar PV power station and mini-grids

Under the guiding motto “NOW OR NEVER”, the Guinea Bissau Sustainable Energy International Conference, held from 6 to 7 December 2018 in Bissau, had called for USD 700 million of investment.

As a concrete follow-up, the country has recently received funding from the West African Development Bank (BOAD) to construct a 20 MW solar PV power plant near Bissau and two 1 MW hybrid mini-grid systems in Gabu and Cachungo. Currently, the African Biofuel and Renewable Energy Company (SABER-ABREC) has published a competitive tender for the submission of proposals.

The development of the baseline and tariff studies for the mini-grids is being supported by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) under the Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded Project “Promoting Renewable Energy Investments in the Electricity Sector of Guinea Bissau”.

The solar PV projects are a significant contribution to the implementation of the National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) and the established project pipeline in the National Sustainable Energy Investment Plan (NSEIP). Both documents were developed with support of ECREEE and UNIDO and are currently presented to interested financiers and investors. Already more than USD 50 million of investment has been raised.

With these policies, Guinea Bissau aims at a 50% renewable energy penetration in the grid peak demand in 2030. In the policy scenario, around 80% of the population will have access to electricity services. Around 9% of the population would be served by renewable energy-based hybrid mini-grids and stand-alone systems.

Guinea Bissau is on the way to become a hub for testing and demonstration of grid-connected and mini-grid solar PV systems. With support of various partners, the country is currently developing and operating the biggest systems of ECOWAS. Examples are in Bambadinca (312 kWp), Bissora (500 kWp), Contubuel (100 kWp), Bubaque (650 kWp), Bolama (360 kWp), Gabu and Canchungo.