- The World Bank is committing $2 million in grant funding as the government of Liberia broke ground for the first utility-scale solar power plant in the country.
- Georgia Wallen, World Bank Liberia Country Manager announced that the funding will be used to engage a transaction advisor for solar Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to be procured through competitive bidding.
- She added that the grant will also support the completion of feasibility studies, including the preparation of environmental and social instruments for private-sector solar PV plants.
“Through this project, we are laying the foundation for utility-scale solar PV plants in Liberia to power homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses across the country,” she acknowledged.
The hybrid model, which combines solar energy generation with the existing hydropower plant, aims to tackle the annual energy demand challenges during Liberia's dry seasons by harnessing low-cost solar resources.
Strategically located at the Mount Coffee Hydropower Station, Liberia, the new solar facility will leverage existing infrastructure and resources to maximize benefits while mitigating potential risks.
Wallen indicated that it will boost energy efficiency and capacity and help displace expensive thermal generation.
As the 2030 target date for Liberia Rising approaches, she expressed the belief that this project will act as a catalyst for further solar energy development, fostering sustainable growth and addressing the energy access gap while emphasising the need for delivering results quickly and efficiently.
The government is leading the development of Liberia RISING 2030, an exercise aimed at directing public spending toward infrastructure and human capital development that will enable expanding production of tradable goods and services—for export or to replace imports.
Liberia then plans to add another 70MW of power through solar PV, which can be accelerated with private sector investment.
In July 2024, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a World Bank-funded $16 million regional intervention project was reportedly signed for the construction of the Regional Emergency Solar Power Intervention Project (RESPITE).
The project, which covers Liberia, Sierra Leone, Chad, and Togo, was signed at the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) Waterside Office in Monrovia in collaboration with the World Bank and the International Consolidated Contractors offshore SAL.
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Then, LEC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Monie Ralph Captan expressed intent to expand the capacity of Mount Coffee and add additional bandwidth over 50% to improve the country's renewable energy sources.
