What are the challenges to energy access in Liberia?

The primary challenge to energy access in Liberia is the limited and underdeveloped energy infrastructure. The lack of adequate power generation, transmission, and distribution systems contributes to this low access rate. The electrification rate is significantly lower in rural areas, where most of the population resides .

What are the opportunities for energy access in Liberia?

Additionally, adopting off-grid and mini-grid solutions presents another opportunity for energy access in Liberia . Given the challenges of extending the central grid to remote areas, off-grid and mini-grid systems offer cost-effective alternatives. Some of the energy sources utilized in Liberia are summarized in Table 3. Table 3.

What is the installed power capacity of Liberia?

Recently, Liberia's installed electricity capacity reached ∼200 MW. Most of this capacity comes from HFO and diesel power plants, with limited contributions from hydroelectric and biomass sources . Fig. 2 provides an overview of the installed capacity trend available as an alternative to the grid-based approach and the needs they meet. Fig. 2.

What is the residential sector in Liberia based on?

The residential sector in Liberia heavily relies on traditional biomass, primarily wood and charcoal, for cooking and heating . According to IRENA, in 2019, biomass accounted for ∼100 % of the total final energy consumption (TFEC) in Liberian households , as illustrated in Fig. 7.

How does Liberia import electricity?

3.2. Imported electricity Liberia imports electricity from neighboring Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea through the West African Power Pool (WAPP) interconnection , which involved 650 km of 225 kV transmission lines , with a transit capacity of ≤290 MW – making it the largest source of imported electricity for the country in 2020.

What energy sources does Liberia use?

Liberia also utilizes other energy sources on a smaller scale. These include small-scale renewable energy systems such as solar and biomass. However, the contribution of these sources to the overall energy mix in Liberia is limited. Abundant and clean energy sources, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.