Senegal has begun commercial operations at a new solar energy facility that combines photovoltaic power with lithium-ion battery storage, the first of its kind in West Africa, as the country of over 18 million people moves to strengthen its electricity grid. . The West African nation, where over 60% of the population have access to electricity—one of the highest in the sub region—aims to achieve universal energy access by 2030. Launched on May 22 in the southern Kolda region, the hybrid plant will generate 60 megawatts of solar power and store up to 72. . Africa REN has commissioned a 16 MW solar plant with 10 MW/20 MWh of battery storage in northern Senegal, billed as the first grid-connected solar-plus-storage facility in West Africa. Dubbed Walo Storage, the EUR-40-million (USD 46.
