The U.S. Trade and Development Agency awarded a grant for a feasibility study to help Lekela Energie Stockage deploy utility-scale battery storage technology in support of its Taiba N’Diaye wind farm, the largest of its kind in Senegal and West Africa. This will also be one of the first stand-alone battery power projects owned by an independent power producer.

“This project will make history in West Africa, and it also represents one of the region’s first large-scale applications of battery storage that will help Senegal integrate wind power into its grid and create a reliable source of clean electricity ,” said Todd Abrajano, USTDA’s Chief Operating Officer and Head of Agency. “We further believe that because of their global leadership in battery storage technology, U.S. companies will be extremely competitive suppliers for this project.”

USTDA’s feasibility study will define the technical specifications of the battery storage system and assess key regulatory, environmental and economic considerations. The project, expected to deploy at least 60 megawatt hours of battery storage capacity, will serve as a model for replication across the region.

“USTDA’s support illustrates the vibrant, mutually beneficial partnership between the American and Senegalese people. U.S financing for the Taiba N’Diaye wind farm is helping Senegal reduce energy costs, providing electricity for two million people and offsetting 300,000 tons of annual carbon emissions. We are excited to use battery storage technology to advance Senegal’s clean energy mix and support Senegal’s ambitious goals to increase its renewable energy capacity,” said U.S. Ambassador to Senegal Tulinabo S. Mushingi.

Chris Antonopoulos, Chief Executive of Lekela Energie Stockage, said, “Battery storage will be vital for integrating renewables into Senegal’s energy mix and stabilizing the grid. We’re delighted that USTDA has awarded a grant to Lekela Energie Stockage to advance this project in Partnership with Senelec, which will be one of the largest battery IPPs in Africa. As West Africa’s largest wind farm, our Parc Eolien Taiba N’Diaye project places Senegal at the forefront of countries committed to the development of renewable energy. It’s fantastic to be involved in furthering this progress through this ground-breaking work.”

This project supports the U.S. government’s Power Africa and Prosper Africa Initiatives.

USTDA has supported 17 activities with Senegal since 1992. Most recently, USTDA awarded a training grant to Senegal’s national utility in support of a project that will help bring power to 440,000 people in rural communities using American-made technology. USTDA also recently awarded a grant to Senegal’s sovereign wealth fund, Fonds Souverain d’Investissements Stratégiques, in support of Senegal’s first major domestic gas pipeline.