By: Energy capital & power

Senegal and sustainable infrastructure developer Africa REN have commissioned the Walo Storage facility in Bokhol, marking the first grid-connected solar-plus-battery installation of its kind in West Africa.

The €40 million project includes a 16 MW photovoltaic plant paired with a 10 MW/20 MWh lithium-ion battery system, designed specifically for grid frequency regulation and stabilization.

“Africa REN plans to replicate the Walo Storage project and deploy Battery Energy Storage System across the region and more broadly on the continent either as a complement to solar plants or as standalone projects to support grid operators,” stated Gilles Parmentier, CEO, Africa REN.

Commissioned after 12 months of construction, the plant is already delivering energy to the national grid under a 20-year take-or-pay public-private partnership with the national utility, Senelec. The hybrid installation will avoid 26,600 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.

217 jobs were created during construction, with about 30 permanent positions supporting operations. Community benefits include solar-powered pumps, expanded clean water access to surrounding villages and training programs in battery maintenance.