Description
Project Name: Kodeni
Project Owner: Africa Ren
Standard: Gold Standard
Project ID: 10793
Located near Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso’s second-largest city), the Kodeni Solar Power Plant is illuminating a path to energy independence. Commissioned in December 2023, this 38 MWp photovoltaic (PV) marvel is the country’s largest solar facility, generating 73 GWh annually to power more than 100,000 households. Kodeni slashes Burkina Faso’s reliance on costly fossil fuels, which dominate 84% of its energy mix.
Spanning 80 hectares, Kodeni features 95,000 solar panels with single-axis trackers and 200 string inverters, delivering electricity to SONABEL via a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA). The plant created 150 jobs (80% local) durint the construction phase and sustains 35 permanent roles, with training in solar maintenance. Its proximity to Kodeni’s high-voltage substation (Burkina Faso’s first interconnection with Côte d’Ivoire) ensures low grid connection costs and supports regional energy exports.
Access to clean and inexpensive energy is a priority of Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Energy, which aims to increase the national and rural electrification rates by 45% and 19% respectively by 2025.
For Bachir Ismaël Ouedraogo, Burkina Faso’s Minister of Energy, the Kodeni Solar project is «essential for the energy autonomy of Burkina Faso. Solar energy is the cheapest and most abundant source of electricity for the country.»
Africa REN develops and operates competitive and reliable clean infrastructure solutions to expand access to power and promote energy self-sufficiency in African countries. Africa REN operates mainly in West Africa with the ambition to build a large portfolio of solar and storage assets. These assets are connected to the grid, or are off-grid to supply commercial and industrial companies with clean electricity. Africa REN operates the first solar power plant in West Africa, in Bokhol, Senegal.
Impact
More than 500MW of capacity will be added to the grid by 2025 at a competitive price, to the benefit of the Burkinabe population.
The project helps to reduce the electricity bill of households.
The plant was built through advanced technology transfer from industrialized countries.
This project will be the largest solar PV plant in the country.
Africa REN used the local workforce to build the plant.
The project is hiring 150 people for the construction phase and will rely on 30 permanent technicians to ensure operation and maintenance.
Solar accounts for 60% of the renewable energy generated in the country.
The country takes full advantage of this energy, the cheapest and most abundant in the country.
CSR Action
Construction of a maternity with equipment, latrines, accommodations and solar electrification and acquisition of an ambulance.
Construction of a building for the civil registry office, as well as its computer system.
Construction of classrooms electrified with solar energy.
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