5 Facts About Renewable Energy in Guinea-Bissau – The Borgen Project

Report on Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development in Guinea-Bissau

1.0 Introduction: Energy Poverty and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Guinea-Bissau, a West African nation with approximately two million residents, faces significant challenges related to economic and political instability. The country’s high level of energy poverty presents a critical barrier to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Over half the population, exceeding one million people, lacks access to electricity. This deficit directly impedes progress on several key SDGs, most notably SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).

The situation is further compounded by a severe lack of access to clean cooking fuels. As of 2023, only 0.8% of the population utilized clean fuels, with the majority relying on traditional biomass such as charcoal, crop waste, and dung. This reliance has severe consequences for:

• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): The use of non-clean fuels contributes directly to high rates of mortality and morbidity from indoor air pollution.
• SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Lack of reliable energy restricts economic opportunities, educational attainment, and overall quality of life, perpetuating cycles of poverty.

Transitioning to renewable energy is therefore not only an environmental objective aligned with SDG 13 (Climate Action) but a fundamental requirement for advancing human development and achieving a sustainable future for the citizens of Guinea-Bissau.

2.0 Assessment of the Renewable Energy Sector

2.1 Systemic Challenges

The implementation of renewable energy infrastructure in Guinea-Bissau is hindered by several systemic issues within its electric sub-sector, which is among the least efficient in West Africa. Key challenges include:

• Operational inefficiencies and waste
• Disparities between energy supply and demand
• Significant financial constraints
• Chronically low levels of investment
• Project delays, such as the stalled completion of a 15MW power plant initially scheduled for 2018.

2.2 Progress and Potential

Despite these challenges, Guinea-Bissau has demonstrated potential for expanding its renewable energy capacity. The transition is critical for improving energy access, particularly in rural areas where availability has remained consistently low.

1. Increased Generation: In 2021, electricity generated from renewable sources reached a high of 18.3 GWh.
2. Capacity Growth: Total electricity capacity grew from 28.3 MW to 29.1 MW between approximately 2018 and 2021.
3. Shift in Energy Mix: Analysis from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) highlights a strategic shift. While in 2021, 85% of the total energy supply was renewable and derived entirely from bioenergy, by 2023 the country’s renewable capacity was reported as 100% solar. This indicates a targeted investment in solar power installations.

Expanding renewable energy access would directly support SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by powering essential services and fostering resilient infrastructure.

3.0 International Partnerships and Investment for SDG Achievement

3.1 European Union Collaboration

International partnerships are central to overcoming Guinea-Bissau’s energy challenges, embodying the principles of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The European Union and Team Europe have engaged in strategic collaborations to support the nation’s development agenda. Key initiatives include:

• Investing in the development of solar plants to bring clean and renewable energy to rural areas.
• Promoting sustainable and climate-resilient practices in agriculture and fishing.
• A 2015 pledge of €160 million from the European Union to strengthen democracy and the rule of law, re-establishing a foundation for sustainable investment.

3.2 Commitment to Sustainable Development Frameworks

Guinea-Bissau has demonstrated a commitment to integrating international recommendations on sustainable development. During the 2020 Universal Periodic Review by the United Nations Human Rights Council, the country received 197 recommendations and accepted 193, many of which directly addressed sustainable development issues. This high rate of acceptance signals a national willingness to align its policies with global sustainability targets.

4.0 Conclusion and Outlook

While Guinea-Bissau faces substantial hurdles in achieving universal energy access, the strategic development of its renewable energy sector presents a clear pathway toward sustainable development. The expansion of renewable energy, particularly solar power, is essential for addressing energy poverty and unlocking progress across a wide spectrum of SDGs, including those related to health, poverty reduction, economic growth, and climate action. Continued support from international partners like the European Union will be critical in transforming the nation’s potential into tangible improvements in the lives of its citizens and ensuring a resilient and sustainable future.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • The article’s central theme is energy poverty and the transition to renewable energy in Guinea-Bissau. It directly discusses the lack of access to electricity and clean cooking fuels, and the efforts to implement solar and bioenergy solutions.
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article connects energy access to health outcomes by highlighting the dangers of non-clean cooking fuels. It states that using sources like charcoal and dung leads to a “risk of dying from indoor air pollution,” contrasting this with the life-saving potential of clean energy.
3. SDG 1: No Poverty
   • The article frames the lack of energy as “energy poverty,” a critical dimension of overall poverty. It explains that over a million people lack electricity, which hinders their ability to improve their home lives, education, and businesses, thereby perpetuating poverty.
4. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The text suggests a direct link between energy access and economic improvement. It mentions that implementing renewable energy could “benefit their businesses” and boost the country’s overall economy, which has “struggled with… economic and political instabilities for decades.”
5. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The focus on shifting from traditional energy sources to renewables like solar is a core strategy for climate action. The collaboration with the European Union to promote “sustainable and climate-resilient practices” further reinforces this connection.
6. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article explicitly details international cooperation. It highlights the collaboration between Guinea-Bissau and “Team Europe” (the European Union) for investments in solar plants, financial aid (€160 million pledged), and policy recommendations from the UN Human Rights Council. It also references data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 7.1: By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services.
   • This target is central to the article, which states that “half of the country, more than a million people, are still unable to access electricity” and “only 0.8% of the country had access to clean fuels that are able to be used for cooking.” The goal of implementing renewable energy is to provide this access.
2. Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • The article directly addresses this by tracking Guinea-Bissau’s progress. It notes that in 2021, renewable electricity generation was at its highest (18.3 GWh) and that 85% of the total energy supply was renewable. It also discusses the shift in renewable sources from bioenergy to solar.
3. Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.
   • This target is relevant due to the article’s discussion of indoor air pollution. It states that non-clean fuels “leave people at risk of death and ill-health,” and that a shift to clean fuels is a “potentially life-saving change.”
4. Target 17.7: Promote the development, transfer, dissemination and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries on favourable terms.
   • The collaboration with the European Union exemplifies this target. The article mentions that “Team Europe is investing in clean and renewable energy with solar plants in rural areas of the country,” which is a direct transfer and diffusion of environmentally sound technology.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator 7.1.1: Proportion of population with access to electricity.
   • The article provides specific data for this indicator, stating that “half of the country, more than a million people, are still unable to access electricity.” It also notes that access in rural areas has remained at “low levels from 2015 to 2022.”
2. Indicator 7.1.2: Proportion of population with primary reliance on clean fuels and technology.
   • A precise figure is given: “As of 2023, only 0.8% of the country had access to clean fuels that are able to be used for cooking.” This serves as a direct baseline for measuring progress.
3. Indicator 7.2.1: Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption.
   • The article provides data points relevant to this indicator. It mentions that in 2021, “85% of [the total energy supply] was renewable.” It also specifies the amount of electricity generated from renewable sources was “18.3 (GWh)” in 2021.
4. Indicator 3.9.1: Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution.
   • While the article does not provide a specific mortality rate, it strongly implies this indicator by describing the use of non-clean fuels as putting people at “risk of death and ill-health.” Progress would be measured by a reduction in these health impacts.
5. Official development assistance and other financial flows.
   • The article mentions a specific financial commitment that serves as an indicator of international support: “the European Union pledged 160 million euros” to support the country.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: borgenproject.org