Solar energy in Côte d’Ivoire: Overview

The current global warming and the awareness of almost all the world’s decision-makers are today favouring the amplification of the debate on the possibilities of exploiting other energy sources. Indeed, for several decades now, most industrialised countries have been gradually integrating “less polluting” energy sources into their energy policies.

In Côte d’Ivoire, major renewable energy projects are still not on the horizon: thanks to its six hydroelectric dams, natural gas and oil, the country is said to be self-sufficient in energy and is one of the West African countries that exports electricity!

It is true that various experiments in solar electrification exist and have been carried out in the country. Since the beginning of the 1980s, Côte d’Ivoire, through the EECI (Energie Electrique de Côte d’Ivoire), has been aware of the interest of solar energy. Thus, the first solar project initiated in 1981, which is actually a pilot project, was part of an experimental rural electrification programme running from 1981 to 1986. Called the Lataha experimental rural solar electrification project, this experimentation gave some encouraging results, having favoured the realisation of other small solar projects, in this case the Ninkro electricity installations in Toumodi.

In addition, the State of Côte d’Ivoire has carried out other smaller-scale actions.

These include

-A solarisation programme set up in February 1995 by the Ivorian government. Since June 1995, solarisation tests have been initiated by the Directorate of Energy in the region of TOUBA (West of Côte d’Ivoire) and KORHOGO (North of Côte d’Ivoire). Some of the solar installations were made well before the government programme and total more than 90 KWp. They were dedicated to several uses, namely: water pumping, communication and signalling, domestic lighting, public lighting, conviviality points.

-The ATERSA project

The objective of the ATERSA project was to provide electricity through solar photovoltaic energy systems to 105 villages located in an area far from the conventional electricity grid in Côte d’Ivoire. The technical implementation and financing was to be carried out by a Spanish company, ATERSA. The ATERSA project was interrupted in 2002, due to the events of September (armed rebellion and partition of the country).

Since then, nothing…

Despite an average solar flux of around 5 kwh/m2/d, a population still in the dark estimated at 6 million inhabitants and a perfect knowledge of the importance of the ecological stakes of promoting renewable energy, the country continues to hesitate…

However, the efforts of the GEF must be acknowledged. Indeed, the UNDP GEF microfinance programme (minimum comfort), in the implementation of its operational programme to combat climate change aimed at promoting “alternative energy in rural and peri-urban community groups”, has made it possible to promote energy-saving technologies as well as renewable energy sources (solar, biogas, etc.). The programme, which has been in existence since 1999, has made it possible, through a network of NGOs (non-governmental organisations), CBOs (community-based organisations) and mutual development organisations, to provide solar photovoltaic electricity to schools, housing for medical and teaching staff, and health centres in the GEF’s Priority Intervention Zones (ZIP) (North, Centre, South-East, South-West) at an average rate of 1,500 Wp/year, corresponding to approximately US$260,000/year. It has also enabled the installation of solar water heaters, solar refrigerators and numerous improved stoves.

Given the scale of the ecological crisis, initiatives relating to the dissemination of alternative energies to fossil fuels from international or private structures should not supplant the actions of the State…

Christophe GBOSSOU

Christophe GBOSSOU is a doctoral student at the SIS (Sciences, Engineering, Health) Doctoral School in St Etienne, France. He holds a Master’s degree in development studies from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland, and is interested in the issues and innovation networks related to the dissemination of renewable energy in developing countries. He is currently at SITE (Science, Information and Technology for the Environment) and his thesis supervisor is Professor Christian Brodhag.

e-mail: cgbossou@yahoo.fr

Download

the online magazine

OTHER ITEMS

Carnets de routes

Culture/loisirs/évènements

Similar items

Pas de pauvreté

Éliminer la pauvreté sous toutes ses formes et partout dans le monde.

No poverty

End poverty in all its forms and everywhere.

Faim«zero»

Éliminer la faim, assurer la sécurité alimentaire, améliorer la nutrition et promouvoir l’agriculture durable.

Zero hunger

Éliminer la faim, assurer la sécurité alimentaire, améliorer la nutrition et promouvoir l’agriculture durable.

Bonne santé et bien-être

Assurer une vie saine et promouvoir le bien-être pour tous à tout âge.

Good health and well-being

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

Education de qualité

Assurer une éducation de qualité exclusive et équitable et promouvoir les possibilités d’apprentissage tout au long de la vie pour tous.

Quality education

Ensure exclusive and equitable  quality education and promote lifelong learnig opportunities for all.

égalité entre les sexes

Assurer l’égalité des sexes et l’autonomisation de toutes les femmes et les filles.

Gender equality

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

Eau propre et assainissement

Assurer la disponibilité et la gestion durable de l’eau et de l’assainissement pour tous.

Clean water and sanitation

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

Energie propre et D’un coût abordable

Assurer l’accès à une énergie abordable, fiable, durable et moderne pour tous.

Affordable and clean energy

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

Travail décent et croissance économique

Promouvoir une croissance économique soutenue, inclusive et durable, le plein emploi productif et un travail décent pour tous.

Decent work and economic growth

Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

Industrie, innovation et infrastructure

Construire des infrastructures résilientes, promouvoir une industrialisation inclusive et durable et encourager l’innovation.

Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

Inégalités réduites

Réduire les inégalités entre les pays et au sein des pays.

Reduced inequalities

Reduce inequalities among and within countries.

Ville et communautés durables

Rendre les villes et les établissements humains inclusifs, sûrs, résiliants et durables.

Sustainable cities and communities

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

Consommation et production responsable

Assurer des modes de consommation et de production durables.

Responsible consumption and production

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Mesure relatives à la lutte contre les changements climatiques

Prendre des mesures urgentes pour lutter contre le changement climatique et ses impacts.

Climate action

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

Vie aquatique

Conserver et utiliser durablement les océans, les mers et les ressources marines pour le développement durable.

Life below water

Conserve ans sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

Vie Terrestre

Protéger, restaurer et promouvoir l’utilisation durable des écosystèmes terrestres, gérer durablement les forêts, lutter contre la désertification, stopper et inverser la dégradation des sols et mettre un terme à la perte de biodiversité.

Life on land

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

Paix, justice et institutions efficaces

Promouvoir des sociétés pacifiques et inclusives pour le développement durable, assurer l’accès à la justice pour tous et mettre en place des institutions efficaces, responsables et inclusives à tous les niveaux.

Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.

Partenariats pour la réalisation des Objectifs

Renforcer les moyens de mise en œuvre et revitaliser le partenariat mondial pour le développement durable.

Partnerships for the goals

Strenghen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.