The government of Senegal is working with the World Bank Group to develop up to 200 megawatts of solar power through Scaling Solar.  According to World Bank data, just over half the population of Senegal currently has access to electricity. The planned Scaling Solar projects underscore Senegal’s commitment to integrate renewable energy resources into its energy mix.

For Madagascar, the third African country to join Scaling Solar, a new 30-40 megawatt solar facility will help ease daily interruptions of power service.  This island nation suffers from frequent power outages, and under one fifth of the population has access to electricity. In the World Bank Group’s Doing Business Report, Madagascar was ranked 187 out of 189 countries regarding the difficulty, delay, and cost of getting electricity.  The planned Scaling Solar project will provide a reliable alternative to expensive diesel generators, drawing on an abundant source of renewable energy.

Ethiopia is the fourth country to join Scaling Solar. Ethiopia Electric Power signed an agreement with IFC to advise on developing up to 500MW of solar power under the initiative. Although Ethiopia has huge renewable energy potential it currently has an energy shortfall of 500MW, with over 70% of its energy coming from hydropower. Solar power will help diversify Ethiopia’s energy mix and allow it to manage its water resources more effectively. This is vital bearing in mind the severe droughts that have afflicted the country. Scaling Solar will provide a quick to build, reliable complement to hydropower, drawing on Ethiopia’s irradiation levels of 1500 to 200 kilowatt hours per square metre.

On February 21, 2017, Zambia’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) signed an agreement with IFC to develop up to 500MW of clean, renewable energy through two to four projects.  This second engagement follows the successful auctions held in May 2016 that attracted some of the world’s top developers and yielded some of the lowest tariffs in the world.  The first procurement round will develop approximately 180MW of utility-scale, clean, renewable solar PV energy.