Liberia has begun construction on its first utility-scale solar plant, a 20 MW facility located in Harrisburg, Montserrado County, at the site of the 88 MW Mount Coffee Hydropower Station. According to local reports, the project is scheduled for completion by August 2025.
This solar plant is the first in a series of planned solar and hydroelectric projects aimed at increasing Liberia’s energy capacity. The Liberian government emphasized the importance of these initiatives in a statement, highlighting their role in addressing the country’s energy needs.
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. attended the groundbreaking ceremony and remarked that the solar project will help alleviate Liberia’s power shortages, particularly during the dry season when lower water levels reduce hydroelectric output.
The project is being funded through a grant from the World Bank under its Regional Emergency Solar Power Intervention Project. At the ceremony, the president expressed gratitude to various international supporters, including the African Development Bank, European Union, European Investment Bank, the governments of the U.S., Japan, and Germany, as well as the German development bank KfW and the West African Power Pool.
President Boakai emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating, “The government cannot do this alone. We will need the involvement of our development partners and the private sector, including Liberian businesses.”
By the end of 2023, Liberia had installed 3 MW of solar capacity, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
