West Africa will have up to 20 GW of installed solar capacity by 2030

Solar energy development plans for all 15 countries of the West African Regional Economic Union (Ecowas) are analysed and forecasted
, according to a new report published by the Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
According to the report, by 2030, West Africa is expected to add up to 20 GW of solar installed capacity
.

The report predicts the future development of renewable energy such as solar energy in the region in three scenarios
.
In the most conservative scenario, the share of hydropower will fall from 22% in 2015 to 17% by 2030, while solar PV and wind will account for 10%, of which 8 GW
of solar capacity will be installed.
Together with other biomass and other renewable energy sources, the share will reach 25%.

In the second scenario, the report predicts that the West African region is expected to increase its installed solar capacity by 12 GW
by 2030.
In the third most optimistic scenario, where countries set clear targets and achieve, the region is expected to add 20 GW of new solar PV capacity by 2030, with an average annual growth rate of about 1.
5 GW
.

In this case, most of the new solar capacity will be installed in Nigeria, Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire
.
Relatively small countries with better solar resources (i.
e.
an average capacity factor of > 20%) such as Guinea, Burkina Faso, Senegal and Mali will also deploy significant solar PV capacity to meet their national targets
.
By then, renewable energy will reach a 38% share
.