New solar project to expand Chad's electricity access

InnoVent, a French renewable energy company, is constructing a 5MW solar power station in Abéché, eastern Chad. The World Bank reports that only 6.4% of the country's population has access to electricity, despite the country's population of well over 17 million. The solar project is essential in expanding access and stimulating socio-economic growth.

The solar project represents an important development in Chad, particularly for Abéché, a city with a population of over 80,000, none of whom are connected to the national grid. With electricity predominantly produced from diesel-powered generators, the solar project will trigger a new era of sustainable access while reducing greenhouse gas emissions significantly. The country is also confident that an influx of renewable energy investments and innovations will shortly follow the project's completion in 2023.

Currently, the north-central African country has one of the lowest electricity access rates in the world, generated mainly from fossil fuels. Nonetheless, Chad plans to boost its access rate to 53% by 2030. With renewable energy innovations gaining speed and the falling cost of new solar generation facilities, the Chadian government and development partners have prioritized solar power to transform the electricity sector across the country.