By: ESI Africa

The Walo Storage project in Bokhol is already connected to the National Electricity Company of Senegal’s (Senelec) grid to help regulate frequency and secure electricity supply to the Senegalese.

The installation facilitates the increasing integration of solar energy while avoiding the emission of 26,600 tons of CO₂ annually – the equivalent of the yearly emissions of more than 18,000 cars. 

Characteristics of the solar and battery storage project in Senegal

1. Project: 10MW/20MWh Battery storage + 16MW of solar energy
2. Location: Bokhol, Senegal
3. Batteries: Lithium-ion
4. Technologies: Monocrystalline modules/Single-axis tracker system/String inverters
5. Off-take: 20-year take-or-pay PPP with Senelec
6. Construction: 12 months
7. Commissioning: 2025
8. Technical partner: Eiffage Energie Systèmes RMT

Just one year after laying the foundation stone the developer, Africa REN, announced the commercial commissioning of Walo Storage.

“… the first photovoltaic facility in West Africa combined with lithium-ion battery storage, designed for frequency regulation and to meet local energy needs in the event of grid loss.

“Capable of supporting frequency regulation and peak-hour energy delivery, Walo Storage marks a major technological breakthrough for the country,” the company said.

Investment, socio-economic impact

The project represents a total investment of €40 million (around $46m).

It was financed in part by its shareholders – Metier Sustainable Capital International Fund II LLP and FMO, the Dutch development bank.

It was also partly funded through debt financing from FMO and the Emerging Africa & Asia Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF) of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG). 

Africa REN said that the construction phase created 217 local jobs, while the operational phase will require 30 permanent positions, contributing to the economic development of the Saint-Louis region. 

The company reported that it has also implemented social initiatives around the site, including:

• solar electrification of pumping stations
• extension of the potable water supply network to five nearby villages, and
• training of local technicians in battery maintenance

Private sector role key in delivering project

“I would like to thank our partners in Senegal, especially Senelec, for their unwavering support since our first investments in 2015. The on-time commissioning of Walo Storage demonstrates our ability to support Senegal’s energy transition using cutting-edge technology,” said Gilles Parmentier, Africa REN CEO.

Toby Gaye, Senelec CEO said that Walo Storage provides Senegal with a vital tool to ensure stable and reliable electricity, while contributing to the diversification of the country’s energy mix. 

“This achievement reinforces Senegal’s pioneering role in sustainable electrification in West Africa and showcases our ability to collaborate with private sector actors and attract international financing,” said Gaye.

According to World Bank data, Senegal has made strides towards universal electricity access, with a national access rate of 84% as of early 2025. 

However, more than 30 % of rural communities remain without grid connection, underscoring persistent disparities.