In Senegal, over two-thirds of the electricity is generated from fossil fuels, with coal making up about 6%. On the low-carbon front, nearly a fifth of the country's electricity comes from cleaner sources such as wind, solar, and hydropower. Wind and solar play significant roles within this category, contributing approximately 9% and 7% respectively, while hydropower provides close to 4%. These figures suggest that Senegal, while still heavily reliant on fossil fuel energy, is making some strides towards incorporating more sustainable low-carbon energy into its electricity mix.
Data sources used on this page include Ember, IEA and World Bank. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Senegal?
Recent trends in electricity consumption in Senegal show growth, with the latest figures indicating an increase to 472 kWh per person, up from the previous high of 453 kWh per person recorded in 2022. This indicates an overall positive trend of rising electricity consumption, essential for economic growth and improving living standards. However, it is concerning that low-carbon electricity generation per person has slightly decreased from 99 kWh to 97 kWh. While overall electricity usage is growing, Senegal faces challenges in increasing, or even maintaining, its output of greener energy.
Suggestions
To enhance its low-carbon electricity generation, Senegal could benefit from studying successful regions like Denmark, which generates 60% of its electricity from wind, or California, where solar energy constitutes 31% of the electricity mix. Emulating such models by investing more in solar and wind power could significantly boost Senegal's clean energy output. Additionally, looking towards countries with strong nuclear energy portfolios, such as France where 67% of electricity comes from nuclear power, could help inform strategies to establish a future nuclear program, providing stable, clean electricity to meet growing demands.
History
Senegal's journey in low-carbon electricity generation has seen some positive developments over the years. In the early 2000s, the increase was gradual, especially with hydropower showing slight variances. Over the past decade, there was a noticeable shift with significant contributions from solar and wind, particularly from 2017 onwards when solar power experienced steady growth. While biofuels entered the scene around 2012, the focus should remain on wind and solar power, which have seen progressive increases year-on-year. These advancements, though modest, offer a promising foundation for escalating the share of sustainable electricity moving forward.
