Data Collection Report Validation Meeting June 19-21, 2023 – Saly, Senegal

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Published On - June 19, 2023

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Speech Delivered By Mr. Jean Francis Sempore Executive Director of ECREEE (ECOWAS Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency)

DEVELOPMENT OF A LOWER COST INVESTMENT PLAN AND A REGULATORY AND ENVIRONMENTAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE DEPLOYMENT OF BESS IN WEST AFRICA (EEOA NETWORK)

Data Collection Report Validation Meeting June 19-21, 2023 – Saly, Senegal

Saly, June 19, 2023

  • Mr. Representative of the Ministry of Oil and Energy of Senegal
  • Mr. Director General of SENELEC
  • Mr. Representative of the West African Electric Energy Exchange System (WAPP)
  • Mr. Representative of the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA)
  • Mr. Representative of GiZ
  • Ladies and Gentlemen, representatives of the Ministries in charge of Energy of ECOWAS Member States
  • Ladies and Gentlemen, representatives of the National Electricity Companies of ECOWAS Member States
  • Distinguished Guests,
  • Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press,
  • Dear participants,

It is with real interest and with a desire shared with all the participants and guests that I speak on behalf of the ECOWAS Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) during the ceremony Official release of the Data Collection Report Validation Meeting for the development of a low-cost investment plan and a regulatory and environmental framework for the deployment of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Africa from West.

Before continuing my remarks, I would like to express my sincere thanks to all the stakeholders who worked to ensure the effective holding of this important meeting. Also, I would like to mention WAPP, GIZ, Senelec and the Ministry of Energy of Senegal.

Ladies and gentlemen,

With a population of more than 400 million and rapid economic growth observed over the last decade, West Africa’s electricity needs are increasing rapidly. The energy system in West Africa faces a number of interrelated challenges: low access to energy, unsecure energy supply and increasing environmental degradation and low access to electricity with a access reserved for approximately 53% of the population. If the challenges of low electricity access are not addressed, there are strong indications that it will be impossible to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Also, under the leadership of ECREEE, the Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS adopted the Regional Policies for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency which aim to increase, among other things, the share of renewable energies in the overall electricity mix. of the region to 48% in 2030.

This results in several initiatives including that of the West African Clean Energy Corridor (WACEC) in 2017 which aims to develop large-scale renewable energies and their integration into West African electricity systems, building on the efforts deployed by the ECOWAS Member States, the specialized ECOWAS agencies in charge of Energy, I want to mention WAPP, ERERA and ECREEE as well as other regional organizations and development partners such as UEMOA, the GiZ and the AfDB through SE4All Africa Hub. WACEC aims to implement 10 GW of solar generation capacity, 2.4 GW of small hydro generation capacity and up to 1 GW of wind power generation capacity by 2030 in the region of ECOWAS.

This initiative fits perfectly with the establishment of the regional electricity market supported by WAPP and ERERA and CEREEE is part of this vision through the desire to have a low-carbon regional market with regard to the objectives regional and national in terms of the integration of renewable energies, the crucial role of which in the development of this regional market no longer needs to be demonstrated.

This is why this study to develop a low-cost investment plan and a regulatory and environmental framework for the deployment of BESS in West Africa in the interconnected regional electricity network is proving to be of great importance to the extent that one of the major objectives is to move towards the energy transition by moving towards a massive integration of variable renewable energy sources such as photovoltaic solar and wind power into the interconnected regional network and to guarantee the flexibility of the system response to cope with the intermittency of these sources.

The collection of reliable data being one of the essential prerequisites for the success of the development of this study, I would like to urge the various experts present here to work throughout this meeting in order to have a share of sufficient data and reliable and on the other hand agree on the simulation hypotheses in order to have a reliable and up-to-date regional network model to guarantee a quality study for the deployment of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in the regional interconnected network.

Ladies and gentlemen

Before ending my remarks, allow me to inform you that ECREEE, the Specialized Agency of the ECOWAS Commission in charge of promoting Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in the 15 ECOWAS Member States, has acquired of a 2023-2027 Strategic Plan through three (3) main axes which are: (i) strengthening institutional, administrative, financial and digital governance, (ii) improving the implementation of Programs and Projects, (iii) Strengthening partnerships and mobilizing resources. The operationalization of this Strategic Plan through 3 regional programs (Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, Transversal) and 3 regional initiatives (Observatory of RES and EE, Annual Report on RES and EE, Forum on Energy Sustainable Development of ECOWAS).

Also, I take this opportunity to thank all the Stakeholders for their effective participation in the 3rd Meeting of the Technical Committee of the ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Regional Certification System which was held from May 24 to 26, 2023 in Praia in Green cap. I am also pleased to announce the organization of the 11th ECREEE-National Focal Points of ECOWAS Member States meeting which will take place from July 24 to 28, 2023 in Niamey, Niger, this meeting will be under the sign of the celebration of the 13th anniversary of the launch of ECREEE activities. Finally, I invite you to the 8th edition of the ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Forum (ESEF 2023) which will take place from October 12 to 13, 2023 in Praia, Cape Verde, on the theme “Strengthening sustainable energy in the region of ECOWAS” in conjunction with the Government of Cape Verde as part of Sustainable Energy Transition Week. You are welcome to one of the biggest events in the field of Sustainable Energy in Africa.

Ladies and gentlemen

To close my remarks, I would like to thank GiZ for its support in organizing this meeting and I would like to magnify the excellence of the collaboration between the ECOWAS Specialized Agencies (WAPP, ERERA and ECREEE). I thank our hosts, Senelec and the Ministry of Energy of Senegal, for their legendary hospitality. Good deliberation to all.

Thank you!
Thank you!
Obrigado!