Senegal's current electricity consumption paints a picture of reliance primarily on fossil fuels, with more than 70% of the electricity generated from these sources. Within the low-carbon category, which comprises approximately 20% of the electricity generation, wind and solar energies serve as the main pillars, cumulatively accounting for nearly 16%. Hydropower and biofuels contribute modestly to the low-carbon share, with around 3.6% and a little over 1% respectively. Net imports and coal together make up about 11% of the total electricity consumption. The dominance of fossil fuels indicates a significant area of improvement for Senegal to boost its clean energy footprint.
Is Electricity Growing in Senegal?
Electricity consumption in Senegal is indeed on a growth trajectory, with the latest data indicating an increase from 453 kWh/person in 2022 to 472 kWh/person in 2023. This upward trend signifies a growing electricity demand, a change of about 20 kWh/person reflecting this progress over the previous year. However, there is a slight drop in low-carbon electricity generation per person, down by 2 kWh/person from the previous year's record of 99 kWh/person. This decline in clean electricity generation is concerning, especially when set against the backdrop of an overall increase in consumption. Senegal must adopt strategies that emphasize the expansion of low-carbon electricity to support sustainable growth.
Suggestions
To enhance its low-carbon electricity generation, Senegal could look to countries that have successfully integrated large proportions of clean energy into their electric grids. For instance, Denmark leads with over half of its electricity generated through wind power, while Uruguay and Morocco boast commendable shares of wind energy at 28% and 21%, respectively. These examples demonstrate the potential of wind resources for countries geographically similar or close to Senegal. Additionally, the growth of solar energy in countries like Lebanon, where it represents 31% of electricity generation, illustrates solar's viability as a substantial source of clean power. By investing in such clean energy technologies, Senegal can tackle its heavy reliance on fossil fuels and work towards a greener energy future.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity in Senegal reveals a gradual, albeit uneven, progress over recent decades. In the early 2000s, hydropower showed some growth, with slight increases in 2002 and 2003, but this growth plateaued in the subsequent years, with some years even seeing declines. Fast forward to the late 2010s, solar energy began to make a noticeable impact, especially from 2017 to 2019, contributing incremental increases. In following years, wind energy began playing a role with notable growth, particularly in 2020 and 2021. Despite these improvements, the overall expansion of low-carbon electricity sources has been sluggish, highlighting the need for a more robust and strategic approach to scaling up clean electricity generation to ensure a sustainable energy future for Senegal.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.