The IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and Scatec Solar, a Norwegian company specializing in photovoltaic solar systems, have signed an agreement to develop solar power projects that will supply renewable energy to address electricity needs in parts of West and Central Africa. IFC InfraVentures, the Global Infrastructure Project Development Fund, and Scatec Solar will develop, design, finance, construct and operate solar photovoltaic plants generating at least 10 megawatts of power. They plan to build a portfolio of projects in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Niger, and Togo. This is the first time a multilateral financial institution is partnering with a private company to develop solar power energy in Sub-Saharan Africa. The agreement will enable IFC InfraVentures and Scatec Solar to collaborate and benefit from each other's expertise, leveraging the world-class technical expertise of Scatec Solar and the local knowledge, networks, and funding capacity of the World Bank Group. Raymond Carlsen, Chief Executive Officer of Scatec Solar, said, “Joining forces with IFC InfraVentures allows us to combine Scatec Solar's know-how in photovoltaic development, installation and operations with IFC's expertise in financing and working with governments in a region where limited supply of electricity is one of the major challenges for growth. We believe that this partnership will be of great value to the countries we work in by reducing the time required from project development to power generation.” Bernie Sheahan, IFC Director for Infrastructure in Africa and Latin America, said, “Solar power generation has great potential, but has had limited traction in Africa because of the lack of technical expertise and funding. Scatec Solar brings solid know-how in solar energy and a strong commitment to Africa that make it an ideal partner for IFC to stimulate private sector investments in renewable energy.” Africa has the fastest economic growth of any region, globally, with a rapidly increasing demand for electrical power. However, the lack of infrastructure in many areas has left people with few alternatives to relatively expensive and environmentally unfriendly diesel- and oil-based generation. Given the favorable conditions, solar power is considered a better alternative to thermal generation in Africa. Furthermore, solar power is well-suited to rural electrification as it can be installed quickly, without requiring transmission lines to deliver it to consumers.
