• Tender seeks off-grid solar systems for 22 Somali health centres
• Somalia’s power relies over 80% on diesel, electricity costs high
• Government targets 50% renewable electricity share by 2028

A tender to install off-grid solar systems at 22 health centres in Somalia closes Thursday, Jan. 15. Issued in November, it highlights government efforts to tackle electricity costs that are among the highest in Africa. Somalia is increasingly turning to solar and wind power to bring those costs down, but its power system remains dominated by diesel generators.

In 2023, Somalia’s installed generation capacity was estimated at 350–400 megawatts (MW). More than 80% came from diesel generators, the World Bank said. Cumulative solar capacity was below 100 MW, while wind power was limited to small-scale projects, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

Authorities want to add more renewables to urban grids and expand off-grid electrification through the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources. About 49% of the population had access to electricity in 2023, Africa Energy Portal data showed. Access remained particularly low in rural areas, where 30.6% of people had electricity.

Several generation and distribution projects have been launched to narrow the access gap. A 55 megawatt-peak (MWp) hybrid solar plant is planned for Mogadishu, including battery storage. The African Development Bank (AfDB) also approved $23 million in 2023 to strengthen access to clean electricity in the northeastern city of Bosaso. The programme combines solar generation, grid expansion and upgrades to distribution infrastructure.

Rising interest in renewables is being driven by high tariffs. The World Bank said the average cost of electricity in Somalia was about $0.61 per kilowatt-hour in 2023. Prices exceeded $1 per kilowatt-hour in some areas supplied by private diesel generators, according to the Somalia Electricity Sector Recovery Project report published in 2024.

In Kenya, average grid tariffs are around $0.15 per kilowatt-hour, while Ethiopia averages about $0.06, according to 2024 figures published by the U.S. Department of Commerce in its Country Commercial Guide. The World Bank attributes the gap to reliance on imported fuels and the absence of a unified national grid.

Authorities are also pointing to Somalia’s strong renewable potential. IRENA says the country receives average solar irradiance of more than 6 kilowatt-hours per square metre per day, and has significant wind resources along its coastline. The government is aiming to steadily increase the share of renewables in the generation mix, targeting 50% renewable electricity by 2028, according to government documents reported by local media in 2024.

Abdel-Latif Boureima