Strengthening Understanding on Renewable Energy Access for Broader Development Outcomes in West Africa

Abstract

AbstractWest Africa has plentiful renewable energy (RE) resources with potential to support economic growth, but numerous energy-related challenges persist. Rural areas are heavily reliant on biomass for everyday needs, and the region has a history of extreme events, including the severe drought in the 1970s and 80s, that impact water availability and access, agricultural productivity and food security. Despite a number of recent programs, energy transitions in the region remain poorly understood. With this motivation, START implemented the Promoting Gains in Renewable Energy project (ProGREEN) in West Africa to identify key enabling and constraining factors for the development and spread of RE, and for recognizing the broader development outcomes linked to RE access. During 2019, ProGREEN gathered multisector and multidisciplinary experts from Burkina Faso and Senegal to embark on an integrative and participatory assessment effort including an intensive literature review, individual interviews, and focus group discussions with grassroots actors of decentralized RE projects. The assessment found access to RE in remote areas was enabled by numerous factors including availability of RE sources, government efforts to improve policy and regulatory frameworks, and falling prices of solar equipment. RE access is found to bring significant improvements to the living conditions of local communities. However, insufficient funds, too few qualified technicians, lacking quality control for equipment, and insufficient engagement of local communities were found to hinder RE development. Findings suggest sharpening technical and financial skills, updating best practices, and integrating research development and cooperation among actors in the renewable energy field.KeywordsConstraining and enabling factorsWater accessAgriculture productivity and food securityGreen economy