off-grid solar-plus-storage projects in Mogadishu

The Government of Somalia, through the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources, has launched the project of off grid solar photovoltaic systems combined with battery energy storage in Mogadishu. The initiative targets critical public facilities and urban services, aiming to strengthen electricity access in a context characterized by limited grid coverage, high reliance on diesel generation, and fragile infrastructure. The project is part of the goverment’s Somalia Electricity Sector Recovery Project (SESRP), launched in 2022.¹

The project’s vision is to enhance energy security and service continuity for essential public institutions by deploying clean, decentralized power systems. It aims to reduce dependence on costly and polluting diesel generators, lower operational costs for public facilities, and demonstrate the technical and economic viability of solar plus storage solutions in Somalia’s urban context. By integrating battery storage, the project seeks to ensure reliable electricity supply beyond daylight hours, supporting resilience in critical services and contributing to Somalia’s longer term clean energy transition.²

The programme is structured as a bundle of multiple small scale systems distributed across Mogadishu, designed to serve public facilities that require reliable and autonomous electricity supply.³ Key components includes:⁴

• Solar generation: Installation of off grid solar photovoltaic systems across 46 public sites in Mogadishu.
• Battery storage: Deployment of lithium-ion battery systems providing a combined storage capacity exceeding 5 MWh, enabling night time supply and backup power.
• System configuration: Each site designed as a standalone solar plus storage system, tailored to local load requirements and operational needs.

By replacing diesel-based electricity generation with solar energy supported by battery storage, the project is expected to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollution associated with generator use.⁵ The decentralized nature of the systems improves energy efficiency and resilience, while contributing to climate mitigation goals through clean energy deployment in a highly vulnerable context.⁶

The project is led by Somalia’s Ministry of Energy and Water Resources (MoEWR), which is responsible for tendering, oversight, and coordination.⁷ The initiative is supported by the World Bank, which has highlighted the importance of off grid renewable energy solutions for improving access to electricity and public service delivery in Somalia.⁸ Private sector companies are expected to design, supply, install, and potentially maintain the solar plus storage systems under the tender framework.⁹

The tender for the 46 off grid solar plus storage projects was announced in 2024, marking the start of the procurement phase.¹⁰Implementation is expected to follow tender award, with installation and commissioning progressing on a site-by-site basis. Specific completion dates have not yet been publicly disclosed.¹¹