A 23 MW solar project has been initiated by Gambian utility Nawec near Jambur, on the country’s west coast.

According to a utility statement, the project “would boost the power generation capacity and efficiency of Nawec’s transmission network in order to increase access to electricity for socio-economic development.” 

The project is reported to be consistent with other government goals, including the Roadmap for the Gambia’s Electricity Sector and the National Development Plan.

The installation is being supported financially by the World Bank and the European Investment Bank (EIB) as part of the Gambia Electricity Restoration and Modernization Project (GERMP). The facility will be The Gambia’s first operational ground-mounted solar plant when it is finished. 

According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), only 2 MW of installed solar capacity existed in the nation at the end of 2021.

The majority of the Gambian power network comprises mini-grids, which the government plans to upgrade by integrating renewable energy-producing capability into hybrid mini-grids. About 35% of Gambians had access to power when the Renewable Energy Act was first adopted there in 2013.