The Parliament of the Economic Community of
West African States (ECOWAS) has called on member states to allocate at least 5% of their national budgets to renewable energy and rural development to help address the region’s persistent electricity deficit.
The recommendation was made during a meeting of the Joint Committee on
Energy, Mines, Infrastructure, Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, held in Dakar, Senegal, from June 15 to June 19. With the regional energy mix still dominated by fossil fuels, the recommendation underscores the funding challenges facing the sector.
Although achieving that target will require significant investment in the coming years, some countries have already made significant progress in renewable energy development. According to data compiled from national energy compacts and reviewed by Ecofin Agency, five ECOWAS member states have installed renewable energy generation capacity exceeding 500 megawatts (MW).
Nigeria
With 2,950 MW of installed renewable energy capacity in 2023, Nigeria is the largest renewable energy producer in the ECOWAS region. Renewables account for nearly 25% of the country’s total installed electricity generation capacity.
Hydropower has historically been the country’s main renewable energy source and is deeply integrated into the national grid through the Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro dams. Solar photovoltaic generation has expanded in recent years through rural mini-grids and off-grid systems designed to improve electricity access, but it remains limited.
Ghana
Ghana has the second-largest renewable energy capacity in the ECOWAS region. According to its national energy compact, the country had an estimated 1,820 MW of installed renewable energy capacity in 2024, representing about 38% of its total installed electricity generation capacity.
More than 95% of that capacity comes from hydropower, driven by the Akosombo, Kpong and Bui dams. The remainder comes from solar photovoltaic generation.
Côte d’Ivoire
By the end of 2023, Côte d’Ivoire, the largest economy in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), had between 901 MW and 910 MW of installed renewable energy capacity, representing about 31% of its total installed electricity generation capacity.
That capacity is based primarily on hydropower, supported by the Ayamé, Kossou, Taabo and Soubré dams. Solar, wind and biomass generation still account for only a small share.
Guinea
Guinea ranks fourth, with 817 MW of installed renewable energy capacity. Renewables account for 62% of the country’s total installed electricity generation capacity.
Unlike the other countries in the ranking, Guinea’s renewable electricity generation still relies exclusively on hydropower, particularly through the Kaléta, Souapiti and Garafiri dams. The government nevertheless aims to rapidly expand solar power by 2030.
Senegal
Senegal rounds out the ranking with 553 MW of installed renewable energy capacity. Renewables account for 29% of the country’s installed electricity generation capacity.
Unlike the other countries in the ranking, Senegal relies only marginally on hydropower. According to data from the Ministry of Energy, solar accounted for nearly 49% of the country’s renewable energy generation in 2023, compared with 29% for wind power and 22% for hydropower.
Overall, the ranking highlights the region’s structural dependence on hydropower, which remains the primary renewable energy source in nearly every ECOWAS member state. That reliance leaves West African power systems vulnerable to climate-related risks. Droughts, declining water levels and changing rainfall patterns can directly affect electricity generation and weaken energy security.
In that context, expanding solar and wind power offers a way not only to reduce carbon emissions but also to make electricity networks more resilient to climate-related shocks.
