Senegal energy mix & electricity
In 2024, Senegal generated 7.6 TWh of electricity. More than half of it, 78.6%, came from oil; solar power was a distant second with 8.9%.
Electricity generation by source in 2024
Share of electricity generation by source, with the change in percentage points over the last ten years.
| Source | TWh | Share | 10-yr Δ pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil | 6 | 78.6% | −8.7 |
| Solar | 0.68 | 8.9% | +8.9 |
| Wind | 0.41 | 5.4% | +5.4 |
| Hydro | 0.31 | 4.1% | −3.4 |
| Bioenergy | 0.11 | 1.4% | −0.2 |
| Coal | 0.1 | 1.3% | +0.8 |
| Gas | 0.02 | 0.3% | −2.9 |
| Total | 7.63 | 100% |
Senegal: electricity in context
In 2024, Senegal generated 7.6 TWh of electricity. That is similar to Cameroon. More than half of it, 78.6%, came from oil; solar power was a distant second with 8.9%.
The renewable share stood at 19.8%, placing Senegal 108th of 158 ranked countries. This puts it 14 points below the world average of 33.8%. It is also below the average for Africa (24.7%). Generating one kWh emits about 540 g CO₂e here (world average: 458 g). The grid is more carbon-intensive than the world average. On carbon intensity, Senegal ranks 109th of 158 from the cleanest.
Since 2014, oil has added the most generation in absolute terms (+2.4 TWh), yet its share of the mix fell by 8.7 percentage points because other sources grew even faster. Measured by share of the mix, solar power gained most, up 8.9 percentage points. Meanwhile natural gas lost the most ground, down 110 GWh. Taken together, the renewable share rose by 10.7 percentage points over the decade. Total generation grew by 3.5 TWh over the same period. Carbon intensity dropped from 617 to 540 g/kWh, a 13% cut.
Coal supplies 1.3% of electricity. That is roughly unchanged on 2014. The peak was 13.1% in 2019. In absolute terms, coal generation peaked in 2019 at 760 GWh and has since fallen 87%.
Wind and solar together provided 14.3% of electricity (solar 8.9%, wind 5.4%), compared with 17.3% worldwide. Per person, that is 37 kWh of solar electricity a year, versus a global average of 338 kWh. Solar first passed 1% of the mix in 2017.
Senegal generates 412 kWh of electricity per resident each year, 11% of the global average. Imports cover around 6% of demand: Senegal bought 500 GWh more electricity than it exported.
How the power mix has changed
Electricity generation by source since 2000. Switch to shares to see the structural shift independent of demand growth.
Renewables and carbon intensity
Senegal against the world and Africa averages.
Total energy: beyond electricity
Primary energy covers transport, heating and industry too. Per person, that is 2,433 kWh a year (world: 21,654).
Domestic extraction of coal, gas and oil, in energy terms.
Power plants in Senegal
The WRI Global Power Plant Database lists 10 utility-scale plants in Senegal with a combined capacity of 0.7 GW. Oil plants account for the largest slice (68% of listed capacity). The biggest single plant is Cap Des Biches (327 MW, Oil). The database was last updated in 2021, so newer wind and solar farms and rooftop PV are under-represented.
Largest power plants
| # | Plant | Fuel | Capacity MW | Commissioned | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cap Des Biches | Oil | 327 | — | — |
| 2 | Sambangalou | Hydro | 120 | — | — |
| 3 | Bel-Air | Oil | 99 | — | — |
| 4 | Mérina Dakhar | Solar | 34 | — | — |
| 5 | Ten Merina | Solar | 34 | — | — |
| 6 | Kahone 1 | Solar | 21 | — | — |
| 7 | Boutoute | Oil | 19 | — | — |
| 8 | Bokhol | Solar | 16 | — | — |
| 9 | Kaolack | Oil | 15 | — | — |
| 10 | Saint-Louis | Oil | 11 | — | — |
Source: WRI Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0). Explore all 10 plants on the interactive power plant map.
Solar & wind farms: Senegal
28 utility-scale facilities tracked by Global Energy Monitor (2026): 285 MW of solar and 50 MW of wind operating, plus 865 MW under construction or planned.
How does Senegal compare?
Senegal next to 6 neighbouring countries, plus regional and world averages. Click a column to sort; use “Compare” for full side-by-side charts.
| Country | Renewable % | Low-carbon % | Fossil % | gCO₂/kWh | kWh / person | Generation TWh | Mix | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senegal | 19.8% | 19.8% | 80.2% | 540 | 412 | 7.6 | — | |
| Mali | 19.5% | 19.5% | 80.5% | 539 | 243 | 6 | Compare | |
| Guinea | 75.2% | 75.2% | 24.8% | 181 | 273 | 4 | Compare | |
| Mauritania | 22.7% | 22.7% | 77.3% | 512 | 400 | 2.1 | Compare | |
| Gambia | 0% | 0% | 100% | 667 | 185 | 0.5 | Compare | |
| Liberia | 54.4% | 54.4% | 45.6% | 316 | 102 | 0.6 | Compare | |
| Cabo Verde | 30.8% | 30.8% | 69.2% | 462 | 991 | 0.5 | Compare | |
| Africa average | 24.7% | 25.5% | 74.5% | 544 | 635 | 962 | Compare | |
| World average | 33.8% | 42.6% | 57.4% | 458 | 3,860 | 31,772 | Compare |
Calculators for Senegal
Senegal energy: frequently asked questions
What percentage of electricity in Senegal is renewable?
What is the main source of electricity in Senegal?
How clean is the electricity in Senegal?
Does Senegal have nuclear power?
How much electricity does Senegal use per person?
How much solar power does Senegal produce?
Does Senegal import electricity?
More countries in Africa
Sources & references
- Our World in Data: Energy dataset (CC BY 4.0) — compiled from the sources below
- Ember: Yearly Electricity Data — generation, shares, carbon intensity
- Energy Institute: Statistical Review of World Energy — primary energy, fossil production
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: International Energy Data — gap-filling for smaller countries
- World Resources Institute: Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0) — power plant locations and capacity
Electricity data: Ember and Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0); latest year 2024. Power plants: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). Rankings exclude systems under 1 TWh and values older than 2020. Figures may be revised by the original publishers.