Sierra Leone energy mix & electricity
Electricity generation in Sierra Leone reached 210 GWh in 2024. The supply is almost entirely hydropower, which accounted for 85.7% of generation; solar power made up most of the remainder (9.5%).
The power system is very small (under 1 TWh a year), so it is not included in share-based world rankings. A single plant can change its mix dramatically from one year to the next.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 0.18 | 85.7% | +5.7 |
| Solar | 0.02 | 9.5% | +9.5 |
| Oil | 0.01 | 4.8% | −15.2 |
| Total | 0.21 | 100% |
Sierra Leone: electricity in context
Electricity generation in Sierra Leone reached 210 GWh in 2024. That is similar to Gibraltar. The supply is almost entirely hydropower, which accounted for 85.7% of generation; solar power made up most of the remainder (9.5%).
95.2% of the country’s power came from renewable sources. This puts it 61 points above the world average of 33.8%. It is also above the average for Africa (24.7%). Generating one kWh emits about 48 g CO₂e here (world average: 458 g). Few grids anywhere are this clean.
Over the past decade hydropower added more generation than any other source (+60 GWh since 2014, plus 5.7 percentage points of share). Measured by share of the mix, solar power gained most, up 9.5 percentage points. Taken together, the renewable share rose by 15.2 percentage points over the decade. Total generation grew by 60 GWh over the same period. Carbon intensity dropped from 133 to 48 g/kWh, a 64% cut.
Coal has never been part of the power mix in Sierra Leone in any meaningful way.
Wind and solar together provided 9.5% of electricity (solar 9.5%, wind 0%), compared with 17.3% worldwide. Solar first passed 1% of the mix in 2017.
Sierra Leone generates 24 kWh of electricity per resident each year, 1% of the global average. Sierra Leone does not trade electricity with other countries: the grid is not interconnected with any neighbour.
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
Sierra Leone against the world and Africa averages.
Power plants in Sierra Leone
The WRI Global Power Plant Database lists 3 utility-scale plants in Sierra Leone with a combined capacity of 0.1 GW. Oil plants account for the largest slice (60% of listed capacity). The biggest single plant is Kingtom (53 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 | Kingtom | Oil | 53 | — | — |
| 2 | Bumbuna Dam | Hydro | 50 | — | — |
| 3 | Bonthe Works | Oil | 23 | — | Sierra Rutile Limited |
Source: WRI Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0). Explore all 3 plants on the interactive power plant map.
Solar & wind farms: Sierra Leone
12 utility-scale facilities tracked by Global Energy Monitor (2026): 6 MW of solar and 0 MW of wind operating, plus 563 MW under construction or planned.
See them on the mapLargest solar & wind farms: Sierra Leone →
How does Sierra Leone compare?
Sierra Leone 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Leone | 95.2% | 95.2% | 4.8% | 48 | 24 | 0.2 | — | |
| Guinea | 75.2% | 75.2% | 24.8% | 181 | 273 | 4 | Compare | |
| Liberia | 54.4% | 54.4% | 45.6% | 316 | 102 | 0.6 | Compare | |
| Senegal | 19.8% | 19.8% | 80.2% | 540 | 412 | 7.6 | Compare | |
| Côte d'Ivoire | 28.9% | 28.9% | 71.1% | 405 | 338 | 10.8 | Compare | |
| Gambia | 0% | 0% | 100% | 667 | 185 | 0.5 | Compare | |
| Ghana | 36.2% | 36.2% | 63.8% | 469 | 705 | 24.3 | 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 Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone energy: frequently asked questions
What percentage of electricity in Sierra Leone is renewable?
What is the main source of electricity in Sierra Leone?
How clean is the electricity in Sierra Leone?
How much electricity does Sierra Leone use per person?
How much solar power does Sierra Leone produce?
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.