Background
Sahelia Solar, a Burkina Faso-based company, specializes in integrating solar photovoltaic systems to harness solar potential, reduce local energy costs, and combat climate change. By promoting solar energy in rural agro-industrial facilities through a "pay-as-you-go" model, Sahelia Solar has launched numerous projects in Burkina Faso. However, challenges in integrating energy for agricultural machinery and identifying specific energy needs have hindered progress.
To address these issues, technical assistance from the CTCN's national entity in Burkina Faso aims to expand technological solutions and payment systems. This includes analyzing payment method challenges, developing a new "pay-as-you-use" system, and recommending improvements for system management.
CTCN Support
Technical assistance is essential for overcoming the challenges of deploying solar energy in Burkina Faso's micro-industry and agri-food processing sectors. The country struggles with rising energy demand, limited renewable technology, and significant urban-rural energy access disparities. Issues with equipment installation, quality standards, and after-sales services further hinder progress.
To address these challenges, technical assistance will focus on identifying stakeholders, strengthening the institutional framework, and providing support to key players. It will also revise the "pay-as-you-go" system and evaluate new payment models. Establishing quality standards and a marketing strategy will improve product reliability and availability, making solar energy more accessible. This will help Sahelia Solar promote renewable energy more effectively and sustainably in Burkina Faso.
Expected outcome
The project aims to introduce a "Pay As You Use" energy payment system to enhance sustainable energy access in Ouahigouya, addressing technical challenges to improve energy efficiency for households and SMEs through the specific objectives:
- Establish project foundations, including baseline definitions, monitoring indicators, impact and gender analyses, and the implementation schedule.
- Set up the project governance structure.
- Diagnose current payment methods used by Sahelia Solar.
- Propose, implement, and manage a new "Pay As You Use" system.
- Develop a system for project monitoring, optimization, and closure.
