Electricity in Senegal in 2022

In 2022, Senegal's electricity consumption was dominated by fossil fuels, with approximately 5.76 TWh generated from these sources. In contrast, low-carbon energy sources, including solar, wind, and hydro, yielded about 2 TWh. This means that less than a third of the country’s electricity came from low-carbon technologies, indicating a significant reliance on fossil fuels. Compared to the global average electricity consumption of 432 watts per person, Senegal's electricity generation capacity is relatively low. Low levels of electricity generation could lead to limited industrial growth, inadequate healthcare services, and restricted educational opportunities, thereby hampering overall economic development and quality of life.

Suggestions

To increase its low-carbon electricity generation, Senegal could significantly expand its existing solar infrastructure, leveraging the country's ample sunlight. Learning from other countries, Senegal could observe the large-scale implementation of solar power in China, which generated 584 TWh from this source alone. Moreover, India, which shares some economic similarities with Senegal, managed to produce 113 TWh from solar energy. Emulating these successful examples could provide a robust framework for Senegal to scale up its solar capacity. Besides solar, increasing wind capacity can also be considered, as demonstrated by Brazil, which generated 96 TWh from wind, indicating the potential for wind energy in regions with favorable environmental conditions.

History

Historically, Senegal’s low-carbon electricity sector has experienced various changes. In the early 2000s, there was gradual growth in hydroelectric power, with small increments each year until 2007 when a decline occurred. However, significant advances in solar power began around 2017, with incremental increases over the following years. Wind energy saw noteworthy developments more recently, starting from 2020. The trend continued, with an increase in both solar and wind energy generation in 2022, reflecting Senegal's commitment to diversifying its clean energy portfolio and reducing dependency on fossil fuels. By continuing this trend and drawing from international successes, Senegal can move towards a more sustainable and secure energy future.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources