Liberia to develop its first solar project with battery storage

From the newsletter

The Government of Liberia has tendered the services of consultants to develop and implement the country's first solar and battery storage auction. The utility-scale project will feature 70 MWp of solar PV plants and 20 MW/60 MWh of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Buchanan and Yekepa.

• The consultants will be responsible for developing the legal, technical, commercial, and financial framework governing the solar PV and BESS tender, culminating in selecting one or more independent power producers (IPPs) to finance, build, and operate the plants.

• The World Bank will provide consultancy funding through grant financing under the Liberia Electricity Sector Strengthening and Access Project, in which $64.2 million will be lent to the Liberian government, with additional funds available if necessary. The deadline for submitting written expressions of interest is 25 February 2025.

More details

• Liberia began construction of its first 20 MW large-scale solar PV plant in October 2024. Located at the site of an 88 MW hydroelectric facility, the project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

• Once completed, the 70 MW solar/BESS project has the potential to significantly contribute to Liberia's economic, social, and environmental development by increasing electricity access, promoting clean energy, and creating opportunities for growth.

• Across Africa, solar projects are increasingly being paired with battery energy storage systems to provide more reliable and dispatchable power, addressing the intermittency of solar energy in the long term.

• Data from the Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA) 2025 report indicates a substantial rise in Africa's battery storage capacity since 2017. Starting from a modest 31 MWh in 2017, it grew to 157 MWh in 2023 and increased tenfold in 2024.

• A notable surge in market growth occurred in 2023, as highlighted by a report from the Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA), which showed a tripling of installed capacity from 51 MWh to 157 MWh.

• The growing trend of pairing solar power with battery storage is providing electricity for larger buildings, homes, and machinery. Lithium batteries, which have more cycles and longer lifespans compared to lead-acid batteries, are also increasingly being used to power major appliances during outages.

• Liberia is following a path that other African nations have already undertaken, including South Africa with the Scatec Kenhardt Solar Plant, one of the largest hybrid solar and battery storage facilities in the world. It has a 540 MW solar capacity and 225 MW/1,140 MWh battery storage capacity.

• Other notable projects include the Sukari Gold Mine in Egypt (36 MW/7.5 MWh), the Balama Graphite Operations in Mozambique (11.25 MW/8.5 MWh), and the Waterberg Boerdery plant in South Africa, which provides a reliable and sustainable power supply for a large-scale agricultural producer.

• These are just a few examples; Africa is home to many other solar and BESS hybrid projects in various stages of development. The trend is clearly towards combining these technologies to provide clean, reliable, and sustainable power.

Our take

• Liberia is taking renewable energy seriously. Long plagued by limited electricity access and reliance on expensive fossil fuel imports (90% of its energy mix), this is a major development for the country, one that moves in the right direction to reduce dependence on costly fossil fuel imports and diversify the energy mix with solar and BESS.

• Solar and BESS projects are particularly helpful in addressing the electricity access gap in rural areas, where it remains significantly high across African nations. If successful, this project will provide stable electricity to remote communities in Liberia that are not connected to the main electricity grid, particularly due to the off-grid nature of solar/BESS projects.

• Lastly, Liberia's energy future hinges on projects like this. If executed effectively, this 70 MW solar + BESS initiative could mark a turning point, paving the way for greater energy independence, economic growth, and improved living standards.