Green power islands for everyone

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The project aims to improve the electricity supply in remote locations in the Saloum river delta. Photovoltaic solar systems supported by battery storage systems (and possibly diesel generators) are intended to make access to electricity easier or even possible. Some locations had been electrified in the past, but the systems are only partially functional and can only supply the villages with electricity for a few hours a day. At other locations, access to electricity will be made possible for the first time. The German federal government has provided a grant of 30 million euros. The project is a follow-up phase of the program to promote renewable energies. The improved electricity supply resulting from the project has a positive effect on promoting the local economy and has a positive impact on income-generating measures in a structurally weak region. One promising sector is the fish processing industry with complex value chains. Shortening the value chain is a first opportunity to improve the income of primary producers, who otherwise only receive fractions of the sales prices. In addition, a long-term stable energy supply provides the basis for the growth of the promising tourism sector and the associated creation of jobs. The sustainable energy supply and environmentally friendly production offer the opportunity to specialize in green tourism in the region. Since the delta has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011, the structures for this are promising. The environmentally friendly energy production also benefits a wide range of agricultural products.