Report on Benin’s Renewable Energy Strategy and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Executive Summary

The government of Benin has formally committed to transitioning its national energy supply to be predominantly sourced from renewable energy by 2030. This strategic pivot, centered on the development of solar power, is detailed in the updated National Renewable Energy Development Policy (PONADER) for 2020-2030. The policy directly addresses critical national challenges, including high dependency on imported electricity, low and inequitable energy access, and the need for sustainable economic development. This report outlines Benin’s current energy situation, its policy objectives, ongoing solar initiatives, and the strategy’s direct alignment with key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

2.0 National Energy Profile and Challenges

Benin’s energy sector is characterized by a heavy reliance on external sources and a significant disparity in domestic access, posing substantial barriers to sustainable development.

• Import Dependency: In 2022, approximately 95% of the electricity consumed in Benin was imported, creating economic vulnerability and hindering progress towards SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).
• Domestic Generation Mix: The limited domestic capacity is primarily derived from thermal sources (69%), with smaller contributions from hydroelectricity (16%) and solar energy (15%).
• Energy Access Disparity: Access to electricity remains a critical challenge, highlighting a significant urban-rural divide that impedes efforts to achieve SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
  1. Urban Household Access: 42.6%
  2. Rural Household Access: 13%

3.0 Policy Framework: PONADER and SDG Alignment

The Council of Ministers approved the updated PONADER to guide the nation’s energy transition. The policy’s objectives are intrinsically linked to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

• Primary Goal: To establish renewable energy as the main source of the country’s energy supply by 2030, with a specific target for renewables to constitute 30% of the energy mix by that year. This is a core objective for achieving SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).
• Climate Action: The policy reinforces Benin’s commitments made at the 2015 Paris climate conference, directly supporting SDG 13 (Climate Action) by reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
• Socio-Economic Development: By expanding domestic generation and broadening energy access, the policy aims to foster economic progress and social equity, contributing to SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

4.0 Solar Energy Initiatives and Projects

Benin is leveraging its significant solar potential, with radiation levels ranging from 3.5 to 5.5 kWh/m²/day, through a series of internationally supported projects aimed at achieving a national solar capacity of 100 MW.

4.1 Current and Planned Photovoltaic Plants

Several large-scale solar plants are completed or under construction:

• Illoulofin Facility (Pobè): A 25 MW plant, financed by the AFD, with plans to expand to 75 MW.
• MCA-Funded Plants: Four additional plants with a combined capacity of 50 MW are being financed by the U.S. Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) in Bohicon, Parakou, Djougou, and Natitingou.

4.2 Rural Electrification and Mini-Grids

Efforts to address rural energy poverty have included the deployment of mini-grids.

• Benin Rural Electrification Project (PERU): In 2018-2019, this project installed solar mini-grids and kits, though it faced management challenges. The government is now considering private sector management for approximately 80 existing mini-grids to ensure their sustainability.
• PANA-Energie Project: Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), this initiative installed solar photovoltaic mini-grids in villages, strengthening the energy sector’s resilience to climate change impacts.

5.0 Environmental and Socio-Economic Co-Benefits

The solar energy strategy incorporates measures that yield benefits beyond electricity generation, contributing to broader environmental and social goals.

• Environmental Preservation: Solar projects are designed with a focus on minimizing environmental impact. Reforestation activities are often conducted in parallel with mini-grid installations, which supports biodiversity and contributes to SDG 15 (Life on Land).
• Livelihood Enhancement: The reforested areas provide new economic opportunities for local communities, such as honey production, which serves as an alternative income source and aligns with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

6.0 Strategic Outlook

Through the Energy Pact for the Republic of Benin, supported by the World Bank and the African Development Bank, the government is consolidating its efforts to harness solar power. This comprehensive strategy is designed to create a resilient and independent energy future for the nation. By placing renewable energy at the center of its development agenda, Benin is taking decisive steps to balance economic progress, ensure social equity, and achieve environmental preservation in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators in the Article

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

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

  • The entire article focuses on Benin’s efforts to shift its energy supply to renewable sources, specifically solar power. It discusses the government’s policy to make renewable energy the main source of power by 2030, the construction of solar plants, and the goal of expanding electricity access to its population.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  • The article explicitly states that Benin’s renewable energy policy is designed to help the country meet its “climate commitments it made at the 2015 Paris climate conference.” The shift from fossil fuels to solar power is a direct measure to mitigate climate change.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  • The policy aims to “reduce the country’s economic dependence on fossil fuels,” which are largely imported. By developing domestic energy capacity, Benin can achieve greater economic stability. Additionally, the article mentions that associated reforestation activities provide “local communities access to honey, an important source of income.”

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  • The article highlights the significant disparity in electricity access between urban (42.6%) and rural (13%) areas. The government’s projects, such as installing solar mini-grids in rural localities, aim to improve infrastructure and services in underserved communities, making them more sustainable and equitable.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  • The article notes a direct positive environmental impact of the solar projects. It mentions that “reforestation activities are carried out” in regions where solar mini-grids are installed, which helps create healthy forests that “provide habitats for a wide variety of species.”

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

• Target 7.1: Ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services

  • This target is addressed by the government’s stated priority of “expanding access to electricity.” The article highlights the low access rates, especially in rural areas (13%), and describes projects like the Benin Rural Electrification Project (PERU) which are designed to connect more households.

• Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix

  • This is the central theme of the article. Benin’s government has a policy to make “renewable energy the main source of the country’s power supply by 2030” and a specific goal for “30% of the country’s electricity to come from renewable energy by 2030.”

• Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning

  • The approval of the “updated National Renewable Energy Development Policy (PONADER) for 2020-2030” is a clear example of integrating climate change measures into national policy, as its goal is to reduce reliance on fossil fuels in line with international climate commitments.

• Target 15.2: Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation

  • The article directly supports this target by stating that “reforestation activities are carried out” in conjunction with the installation of solar mini-grids, contributing to the restoration of forests and habitats.

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

• Indicator 7.1.1: Proportion of population with access to electricity

  • The article provides precise baseline data for this indicator: “electricity access in urban areas of Benin stood at 42.6%, with rural areas trailing far behind at just 13%.” Progress can be measured against these figures.

• Indicator 7.2.1: Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption

  • The article provides both a current figure and a future goal for this indicator. It states that “solar power currently contributes around 15% of domestic production” and that the goal is for “30% of the country’s electricity to come from renewable energy by 2030.”

• (Implied) Indicator: Reduction in dependency on imported energy

  • The article states that “In 2022, Benin imported nearly 95% of the electricity it used.” A key measure of the policy’s success would be a significant reduction in this percentage, indicating increased domestic generating capacity.

• (Implied) Indicator: Installed capacity of renewable energy

  • The article mentions specific capacities of solar power plants, such as the “25-megawatt Illoulofin facility” with plans to expand to 75 MW, and four additional plants with a “combined capacity of 50 MW.” The government’s aim to achieve “solar energy capacity of up to 100 MW” is another measurable indicator.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: news.mongabay.com