Côte d’Ivoire Launches Two 100 MW Solar-Plus-Storage Tenders To Boost Clean Energy Transition

Côte d’Ivoire has taken another major step toward strengthening its clean-energy transition with the launch of two international tenders for large-scale solar power projects. The government is seeking independent power producers to develop two new photovoltaic plants, each with 100 MW-peak capacity, and both equipped with 33 MWh battery storage systems. One of these projects will be located in Dabakala in the northeast, while the other will be built in Niakaramandougou in the central region. Together, they represent a significant addition to the country’s renewable energy portfolio and reflect a growing emphasis on solar-plus-storage solutions.

Bidding for the projects is open to international and local private developers, who will be selected through a competitive tendering process. Successful bidders will be awarded long-term, 25-year Power Purchase Agreements, giving them a stable investment horizon and helping ensure steady supply into the national grid. The deadline for submitting bids has been set for 25 July 2025, giving interested parties several months to prepare their technical and financial proposals. The inclusion of battery storage is seen as essential, allowing the plants to store surplus solar electricity and release it during peak evening demand or low-generation periods, ultimately improving grid reliability and reducing dependence on fossil-fuel-based backup power.

These tenders support Côte d’Ivoire’s broader national energy strategy under the Pacte National Énergie, which outlines the country’s goal of increasing the share of renewable energy in the electricity mix to 45 percent by 2030. While the country has made notable progress in expanding its energy infrastructure, solar generation has remained relatively limited compared to hydro and thermal sources. The new projects are expected to help diversify generation sources and move the country closer to achieving its climate and energy-security commitments.

Côte d’Ivoire’s electricity network has expanded steadily in recent years. By 2023, the country’s installed power capacity reached about 2,907 MW, with nearly 69 percent of it coming from thermal generation. Meanwhile, the national transmission network grew from 4,422 kilometers to 7,553 kilometers over the past decade, and the distribution network expanded from around 36,101 kilometers to more than 61,000 kilometers. These developments have contributed to a significant rise in electricity access, which reached 72.4 percent of the population in 2023, up from 61.5 percent ten years earlier.

By inviting private investment into new solar-plus-storage projects, the government aims to support rising electricity demand driven by industrial growth and urbanization, while strengthening the grid against intermittency and supply fluctuations. The new tenders are expected to attract strong interest from global and regional renewable-energy players, marking another step in Côte d’Ivoire’s effort to build a cleaner, more resilient, and more affordable power system for its citizens.