Grid-connected large-scale solar PV plants in West Africa: Current status, trends and operational challenges

More than a decade after the adoption of the first regional renewable energy policy in West Africa in 2012, grid-connected large-scale solar PV has expanded rapidly across the region. This study assesses the status, trends, technological characteristics, and operational challenges of large-scale PV plants based on regional data, stakeholder engagement, and field observations. Results show that cumulative installed capacity increased from 7.50 MWp in 2010–924.22 MWp in 2025, with Burkina Faso, Senegal, and Ghana accounting for 62.8% of the regional total. Monocrystalline silicon PV modules dominate (44.2%), while fixed-tilt ground-mounted systems account for 81.9% of installed capacity. Storage remains limited, with five PV projects associated with a total of 33.50 MW / 33.54 MWh of storage. Depending on project implementation scenarios, regional capacity could reach 3285–4442 MWp by 2029. While this expansion has been supported by declining solar PV costs and initiatives at the national, regional, and international levels, the private sector has played a major role, accounting for 542.72 MWp, or 58.7%, of the region’s installed capacity. This rapid expansion has also revealed critical operational challenges shaped by local environmental and technical conditions that were not always sufficiently anticipated during project design. Major challenges reported by plant operators include high temperatures, dust accumulation, strong winds, bird droppings, rapid vegetation growth, inverter failures, grid disconnections, poor grid quality, limited access to reliable weather data, and inadequate forecasting tools. In addition, the absence of adequate regulatory frameworks and recycling infrastructure for end-of-life solar PV components raises concerns about the sector’s long-term environmental sustainability. Addressing these challenges requires improved operation and maintenance practices, stronger grid infrastructure and forecasting capabilities, increased integration of energy storage, and greater collaboration among operators, researchers, industry stakeholders, and policymakers.