Electricity in Senegal in 2021

Senegal's electricity landscape in 2021 is dominated by fossil energy sources, including a significant 4.48 TWh from fossil energy and an additional 1.81 TWh from gas. Combined, fossil and gas account for more than three quarters of the country's total. On the green front, low-carbon power, including nuclear, wind and solar, accounts for a significantly smaller 1.13 TWh. It's clear that such heavy reliance on non-renewable and high-emission energy sources doesn't bode well for the environment, considering the global average of electricity consumption sits at 410 watts per person. The low level of electricity generation may hinder economic development, reliable technology and infrastructure, and stunts a transition to cleaner, more sustainable energy sources.

Suggestions

To increase its low-carbon electricity generation, Senegal could draw inspiration from other countries. For example, neighboring countries like Brazil and South Africa have seen success with wind and solar energy respectively. Brazil produces a noteworthy 94 TWh from wind and South Africa generates 16 TWh from solar. These figures suggest that Senegal, with a similar climate and geographical position, could effectively implement similar strategies. Looking at countries with successful nuclear programs like France and Canada, Senegal could explore this approach as a further means of significantly increasing its low-carbon electricity generation.

History

Looking back at the history of low-carbon electricity in Senegal, we can see baby steps towards clean energy. The journey began in 2002 with an increase of 0.2 TWh in hydroelectricity generation, which grew slightly in the following year. The mid-2000s saw a stagnation and slight decrease in hydroelectricity. In 2012, biofuels stepped into the scene with a production of 0.1 TWh, but saw a reduction two years later, before recovering in 2016. The game-changer, however, was the introduction of solar energy in 2017. Within five years, it has shown consistent growth every year, culminating in a production of 0.1 TWh in 2021. Wind energy made a noteworthy entry in 2020 with a generation of 0.2 TWh. Overall, while the history of low-carbon electricity in Senegal paints a slow but steady shift towards cleaner sources, it's clear that there's still potential for growth to ensure a green future for the country.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources