…Ndiob community showcases renewable energy’s potential as residents seek greater investment to meet growing demand
By Joy Omagha Idam, Abuja
NDIOB, SENEGAL — Away from policy debates and conference presentations in Dakar, members of the ECOWAS Parliament Joint Committee on Energy and Mines, alongside Committees on Infrastructure, Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, embarked on a field visit to the rural Commune of Ndiob in Senegal’s Fatick Region to witness firsthand how renewable energy is reshaping lives and local economies.
The visit, held as part of the ongoing ECOWAS Parliament delocalized meeting on “Harnessing Renewable Energy for Rural Electrification and Strengthening Rural Economies in the ECOWAS Region: The Role of the ECOWAS Parliament,” offered lawmakers a practical glimpse into both the successes and challenges of rural electrification through solar energy.
Led by Head of Delegation, Hon. Fanta Conté, the parliamentary team was received by Mayor Oumar Bâ and officials of Green Impact West Africa, the company managing Ndiob’s pioneering solar-powered mini-grid project.
Established under Senegal’s Rural Electrification Agency (ASER), the Ndiob solar project was conceived in 2019 and commissioned in 2021 as one of the country’s flagship rural electrification initiatives.
At the centre of the project is a state-of-the-art Solartainer facility — a self-contained solar power plant built around a 40-foot container and equipped with 144 photovoltaic panels generating 50 kilowatt peak capacity. The facility is supported by a TESVOLT lithium-ion battery system capable of storing 134 kilowatt-hours of energy.
The installation currently supplies electricity to three villages — Bacco Dior, Bacco Sérère and Bacco Mboytolle — through a low-voltage distribution network supported by smart metering technology that allows remote monitoring and digital billing.
Beyond electricity, the project also provides clean water through an integrated purification system and is designed to support agricultural cold-chain services aimed at reducing post-harvest losses.
According to project managers, the facility presently serves about 100 households, 20 small and medium-sized enterprises, and 10 social institutions, including schools, health centres and places of worship.
Transforming Rural Lives
Residents say access to reliable electricity has significantly improved their quality of life.
Before the arrival of solar power, many households depended on candles, kerosene lamps and small generators. Today, homes enjoy better lighting, children can study after dark, and solar-powered streetlights have improved security across the community.
Women and youths have also benefited through reduced domestic burdens and the creation of employment opportunities in system maintenance, technical services and commercial operations.
Economic activities have expanded considerably. Welders, carpenters, tailors and grain mill operators now operate more efficiently, while businesses remain open beyond sunset.
The availability of cold storage facilities has further helped farmers and traders preserve agricultural products, reducing spoilage and increasing profitability.
Health centres now store vaccines and medicines under proper refrigeration, while schools and community institutions enjoy more conducive environments for learning and social activities.
Challenges Behind the Success Story
Despite its remarkable achievements, the Ndiob project is facing growing challenges.
Officials of Green Impact West Africa highlighted difficulties associated with equipment maintenance in remote locations, the need for sustainable financing mechanisms and the importance of strengthening local technical and management capacity.
The company also identified regulatory coordination issues involving ASER and Senegal’s national electricity company, SENELEC, as the country’s energy sector continues to evolve.
Residents, meanwhile, pointed to affordability concerns during difficult economic periods and acknowledged that many households are still learning how to use electricity productively to generate income.
Perhaps the most pressing challenge is rising demand.
As the community grows and more households acquire electrical appliances, the existing infrastructure is increasingly struggling to meet consumption needs, resulting in low and inconsistent voltage supply.
ECOWAS Lawmakers Encourage Community Participation
During interactions with residents, ECOWAS parliamentarians urged community members to take greater advantage of opportunities within the renewable energy sector.
Vice Chairman of the ECOWAS Parliament Committee on Infrastructure, Hon. Ahmed Munir, encouraged young people to embrace careers and entrepreneurial opportunities in solar energy installation and maintenance.
According to him, renewable energy offers enormous prospects for innovation and employment, particularly in rural communities where conventional electricity infrastructure remains limited.
“The youth can take this technology to another level and become entrepreneurs and innovators in the renewable energy sector,” he said.
Chairman of the ECOWAS Parliament Committee on Agriculture, Senator Ali Ndume, challenged women and community groups to invest collectively in solar-powered equipment capable of generating income.
He specifically encouraged the acquisition of solar-powered refrigerators and cold-storage facilities for food preservation, beverage production and other small-scale enterprises.
Ndume stressed that communities should leverage the falling cost of solar technology rather than wait indefinitely for government intervention.
Residents Call for Expansion
For many residents, the benefits of the project are undeniable.
Mustafa Faye, a resident of Ndiob, described the transformation that access to electricity has brought to the community.
“When you come here, you will not say this is a village. It looks like a town because many people who work in Dakar now have homes here,” he said.
According to Faye, electricity has enabled households to own refrigerators and other appliances that were previously considered luxuries.
However, he admitted that the growing population has exposed the limitations of the current system.
“The electricity is low and not regular. We cannot even use air conditioners because the batteries cannot support them. Everybody wants electricity now, but the system is no longer enough for the population,” he explained.
He welcomed ongoing plans to complement the solar installation with connections to the national grid and appealed for investment in stronger battery storage technologies.
“Africa has sunlight all year round. Solar energy is very good, but we need better batteries and stronger equipment to supply everything we need,” he added.
Looking Ahead
Building on the success of the pilot project, Green Impact West Africa plans to expand electricity access to additional unelectrified communities, introduce more solar-powered cold-chain facilities for farmers and implement economic empowerment programmes targeting women and youths.
The company also aims to replicate the Ndiob model across other communities within the Fatick Region and beyond, contributing to Senegal’s broader rural electrification strategy.
For ECOWAS lawmakers, the Ndiob experience served as a powerful reminder that renewable energy can do more than provide electricity — it can drive economic growth, improve social services and transform rural livelihoods.
At the same time, the visit underscored the urgent need for increased investment, stronger storage systems, local capacity development and supportive policy frameworks to ensure renewable energy remains a sustainable solution to West Africa’s persistent electricity challenges.
As the delegation departed Ndiob, one message resonated clearly: while sunlight may be abundant across West Africa, unlocking its full potential will require sustained investment, innovation and active community participation.