Solar power plant in Burkina Faso

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As part of the development cooperation program to promote a regional electricity network in West Africa, the financing of a grid-connected 27 MW photovoltaic system and a short-term electricity storage facility (storage volume 7 MWh) near the city of Bobo-Dioulasso will contribute to a climate-friendly, reliable and cost-effective electricity supply in Burkina Faso and in the neighboring countries of the West African Power Pool (WAPP) (Phase I+II). Burkina Faso has a high natural potential for solar energy (irradiation values 5.5 kWh/m2/day; Germany 2-4). The government has set itself the goal of generating 30% of its electricity from renewable energies by 2030. The installation of low-cost solar energy will help reduce electricity costs and strengthen the stability of the regional electricity grid. This will improve production conditions and the competitiveness of the local economy in Bobo-Dioulasso. In addition, the additional generation capacity of the photovoltaic system can partially replace expensive and environmentally harmful diesel power from the diesel power plant located in the immediate vicinity, so that the power plant produces more in the evening hours and acts as reserve capacity, which at the same time leads to a more reliable energy supply. The project therefore also makes a contribution to global climate protection (KLM2) and Agenda 2030. In addition to the local effects, the project can help to stabilize the regional WAPP interconnected network due to its installation at the junction of two regional transmission lines. In the medium and long term, it is also possible to export excess daytime electricity from the PV system to the neighboring countries of Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana and Mali. The project is a priority project of the WAPP in Burkina Faso and has synergies with other planned WAPP projects (e.g. Ghana-Burkina-Mali line).