Africa REN commissions 20MW solar-plus-storage plant in Senegal

Independent power producer, Africa REN, has commissioned a 20MW of solar PV power plant with a 10MW/20MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in Senegal. Named the Walo Storage project, it marks West Africa’s first solar installation with dedicated energy storage for frequency regulation.

Built with an estimated investment of €40 million (US$46.5 million), the project was funded by Africa REN, Dutch development bank FMO, and the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG)—partially through its Emerging Africa & Asia Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF).

“I would like to thank our partners in Senegal, first and foremost Senelec, for their unwavering support since our first investments in 2015. The timely commissioning of Walo Storage confirms our ability to support Senegal’s energy transition with the most advanced technologies. It is also a key step in our ambition to bring €500 million of sustainable assets by 2030,” said Gilles Parmentier, President of Africa REN.

A first for Senegal

Located in Bokhol, Dagana department, northern Senegal, the project is connected to the grid operated by Senelec, the national utility and transmission system operator (TSO). Under a 20-year take-or-pay public-private partnership (PPP) agreement, Senelec will offtake power from the facility.

“The arrival of Walo Storage provides us with essential leverage to guarantee stable and reliable electricity while significantly contributing to the diversification of our energy mix,” Papa Toby Gaye, CEO of Senelec.

The Walo Storage project represents a major technological advancement for Senegal, combining frequency regulation capabilities with peak-hour energy delivery – a first for the country’s power sector.

Senegal aims to source 40% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2030. According to IRENA data, the country’s solar capacity grew from 231 MW in 2023 to 273 MW by the end of 2024, demonstrating steady progress toward this goal.