150MW regional solar farm

The West African Power Pool has invited expressions of interest from consultants to carry out studies for a 150MW regional solar farm in Gambia. The project is one of nine large solar farms planned for development as part of a regional power masterplan drawn up by the Economic Community of West African States. The 3.15GW capacity of variable renewable energy generation to be developed consists mainly of regional solar parks in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Gambia, Nigeria, Benin,Togo, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.The plan aims to add 15.49GW of capacity by the end of 2033, including 3.15GW of solar and wind.

The Gambia project, which has funding from the World Bank’s Solar Development in Sub-Saharan Africa project (Phase I), would include between 100MWh and 150MWh of battery storage, and would be connected to the Soma substation.

The work includes preparation of a detailed environmental and social impact assessment report comprising an environmental and social management plan and a resettlement action plan for the solar park site and the transmission lines connecting the park to the substation. Expressions of interest were due by 21 September.