Solar Development in Sub-Saharan Africa - Phase 1 (Sahel)

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The development objective of the First Phase of the Solar Development in Sub-Saharan Africa Project is to promote the deployment of competitively-procured Regional Solar Parks in West Africa and enable the dispatch of variable solar energy. There are two components to the project, the first component being Regional Solar Integration, Dispatch, and Capacity Building. This component proposes to support WAPP member utilities and WAPP to strengthen their dispatch, grid integration and planning capacities, and VRE production monitoring capabilities by: (a) reinforcing the ICC with the creation of a unit dedicated to VRE to enable WAPP to monitor the volume and quality of intermittent power generation within the different interconnected zones through the provision of equipment, consulting services and training; and creating a WAPP Renewable Energy Task Force with all WAPP member utilities vested with responsibility to (i) support an increased coordination and knowledge sharing on VRE issues between WAPP countries and their respective utilities, including through studies required to monitor and support the development of VRE projects; and (ii) share knowledge on planning, procuring and integrating solar generation into the grid, and through the provision of consulting services and training. Finally, the second component is the regional solar parks preparation. This component proposes to support WAPP’s planning, investment programming, and environmental safeguards department to: a) identify and prepare regional solar generation projects and associated grid investments, in close coordination with WAPP members, IFC, MIGA, and development partners. Such projects could include the Burkina Faso Regional Solar Park, the Mali Regional Solar Park, and solar generation facilities tied to hydropower plants (using for instance floating solar technology), such as solar generation tied to Manantali dam. Activities will include, but not limited to, grid integration studies, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, the documentation on project structuring, the definition of the most suitable implementation arrangements determining ownership and operation, and the preparation and documentation of the solar auction; and b) roll out a solar resource ground measurement campaign in multiple locations across the region to improve overall knowledge of the solar resource and siting of solar plants, and to reduce uncertainties on the solar resource.