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The World Bank Group’s Scaling Solar programme, designed to help remove obstacles to developing large-scale solar power in developing countries, has set a new benchmark in Senegal resulting in two bids that will produce electricity for under 4 Euro cents (roughly 5 US cents) per kilowatt hour.The deal will provide one of the cheapest sources of electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa. Senegal’s Electricity Sector Regulatory Commission (CRSE) recently announced the winner of the programme’s competitive auction to develop two utility-scale solar plants with a total capacity of 60MWac. ENGIE/MERIDIAM was awarded both projects with bids to produce solar power at just 3.80 Euro cents per kilowatt hour for the solar plant located in Kahone and 3.98 Euro cents per kilowatt hour for the solar plant located in Touba. Once the plants are built, this will constitute Senegal’s cheapest utility energy source, helping the government meet the objectives of the “Plan Senegal Emergent” by drawing on an abundant renewable resource. “In Senegal, Scaling Solar once again demonstrates that this innovative approach brings together the IFC and the World Bank, investors, and governments in a transparent, streamlined, and competitive process. The result is great deals for consumers,” said Philippe Le Houérou, IFC’s CEO. “Scaling Solar is the poster child for creating markets for clean and affordable energy for Africa.” The World Bank Group designed and helped CRSE run the tender, which led to 14 bids for the two projects from eight bidders. This success follows the first Scaling Solar auction in Zambia, which had delivered a ground-breaking 6.015 US cent tariff, the lowest tariff in Sub-Saharan Africa at the time. Scaling Solar is now developing over 1 gigawatt of solar power in partnership with four African countries – Zambia, Ethiopia, Madagascar and Senegal. In addition, the program is expanding to new regions with countries in Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East in discussions to join Scaling Solar. Scaling Solar is a World Bank Group solution that makes it easier for governments to quickly procure and develop large-scale solar projects with private financing. It includes a ‘one-stop shop package of technical assistance, templated documents, pre-approved financing, insurance products, and guarantees. Scaling Solar has financing support of USAID’s Power Africa, the Private Infrastructure Development Group company, DevCo, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, and the UK Department for International Development. The Scaling Solar project in Senegal also received valuable financial assistance from the Rockefeller Foundation. The World Bank Group plays a key role in the global effort to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. It consists of five institutions: the World Bank, including the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA); the International Finance Corporation (IFC); the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). Working together in more than 100 countries, these institutions provide financing, advice, and other solutions that enable countries to address the most urgent challenges of development. |
