West Africa Energy Storage Photovoltaic Costs

How much does solar cost in Africa?

Stand-alone solar PV mini-grids have installed costs in Africa as low as USD 1.90 per watt for systems larger than 200 kilowatt. Solar home systems provide the annual electricity needs of off-grid households for as little as USD 56 per year, less than the average price for poor quality energy services.

Is solar PV the future of Africa?

The emerging potential of solar PV is perhaps the most exciting development on the continent from an energy perspective. Africa has excellent, widely distributed solar resources, yet the continent’s solar PV and concentrating solar power (CSP) markets are in their infancy.

Are solar PV systems becoming more common in Africa?

Source: World Bank, 2016. With an expanding market for the installation of solar PV systems in Africa, it naturally can be expected that companies which produce solar PV modules locally will emerge and become more common.

Is solar PV a viable option in Africa?

However, it is exciting to see that despite the very early stages of utility-scale solar PV deployment in Africa, and given the transportation and engineering challenges facing infrastructure projects on the continent, it already is possible for projects to have competitive total installed costs and cost structures compared to the global average.

What is the average solar PV system capacity in Africa?

The average residential solar PV system in OECD countries has a capacity of 3 to 5 kW. SHS in Africa can be 60 to 250 times smaller, with a typical capacity of 20 to 100 W. In addition to having higher costs per watt due to their small size, these systems need to incorporate batteries and charge controllers.

Is a competitive cost structure for solar PV achievable in Africa?

Project developers are now targeting sub-USD 2/W cost ranges in East and West Africa. This suggests that with the right regulatory framework and access to finance, competitive cost structures for utility-scale solar PV are achievable throughout Africa.