Western Africa is home to one of the largest concentrations of people without access to electricity in Sub Saharan Africa, with about 33% of the region’s 565 million people without electricity in 2023.
Most of those without access live in rural and remote communities where extending conventional electricity grids is often economically unviable. Decentralised renewable energy systems, particularly solar PV mini grids, are therefore emerging as an important solution for connecting these communities to reliable electricity.
A new analysis based on the International Renewable Energy Agency’s Strategic Energy Access Planning Support framework has identified a significant opportunity for solar PV mini grids combined with battery storage in Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria and Senegal.
The study estimates a near term market of 568 MW for solar PV mini grids with battery storage across the four countries. It also finds that the economic value of battery storage increases significantly in areas where grid expansion is constrained and electricity demand is high.
Under the highest demand scenario assessed, the value attributed to battery storage approaches US$25 billion, while the required battery capacity reaches about 130 GWh.
The analysis used an enhanced OnSSET geospatial model together with a mini grid optimisation tool to assess different electricity supply scenarios. These scenarios considered variations in electricity demand, grid expansion strategies and mini grid costs.
The study also introduced a value of storage metric to measure the economic contribution of batteries. This compares the total discounted lifecycle cost of a hybrid solar PV and diesel mini grid with battery storage against an equivalent system without batteries, where diesel generators provide the required flexibility.
The findings indicate that battery storage becomes particularly valuable where conventional grid expansion is limited and electricity demand is high. Batteries allow solar generation to be shifted to periods when renewable resources are unavailable, reducing dependence on diesel generation.
The report also highlights the role of battery storage as a hedge against volatile diesel prices. Avoided fuel costs are estimated to outweigh the additional investment in storage by between two and four times, strengthening the economic case for incorporating batteries into mini grid systems.
Expanding decentralised renewable energy systems is also closely linked to Mission 300, the initiative targeting electricity access for 300 million people across Africa by 2030.
The report calls for more integrated national electrification planning, greater use of geospatial planning tools and stronger institutional capacity to identify the most appropriate electricity supply options for underserved communities.
It also recommends establishing enabling policy and regulatory frameworks for mini grids and battery storage, supported by innovative financing and risk mitigation mechanisms capable of attracting private investment.
The findings reinforce the growing role of solar PV and battery storage in addressing Africa’s electricity access challenge, particularly in rural areas where conventional grid expansion remains difficult and costly.
Link to the full report HERE
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
August 10, 2026
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