International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimated that the total installed solar capacity in Liberia was 3.389 MW in 2023. ⁸

With the completion of Liberia’s first utility-scale solar farm, the total solar panel production will increase up to 23 MW in 2025.⁹

In line with the ECOWAS Regional Renewable Energy Policy, Liberia aims to achieve 60 MW of on-grid solar capacity by 2030.¹⁰

¹¹

• Hydropower: 0.14 USD/kWh
• Thermal Power: 0.33 USD/kWh

⁸

In the year 2022, Liberia’s total installed electricity production capacity is 194.454 MW. Fossil fuels (oil) dominate the energy mix, contributing 98 MW, which accounts for 50.39% of the total. Hydropower is the second-largest source, providing 92.86 MW or 47.76%. Solar energy (off-grid) contributes 3.389 MW, representing 1.74%, while bioenergy sources, including wood waste (0.13 MW) and agricultural waste (0.075 MW), collectively account for less than 0.11% of the capacity.

Projected Renewable Energy:

Liberia is set to enhance its renewable energy footprint with plans to add up to 300MW of hydroelectric and solar power to its energy mix. ¹²

On Average 8 hours of electricity power outages occur daily in Liberia.¹³

Global Association for the Off-grid Solar Energy Industry (Gogla) estimated that 4,576 units of solar energy kits were sold in Liberia during the second half of 2023. ¹⁴

Liberia aims to achieve Universal Access to Energy by distributing 250,000 Affordable Solar Renewable Lamps to its non-electrified population by the year 2030. ¹⁰

Installed: There is no solar farm operational in Liberia in the year 2024.

Projected:  One solar farm is under construction and one more is announced by Liberia Electricity Corporation to be built in the future. ⁹

Current: IRENA estimated that Off-grid solar capacity in Liberia was 3.389 MW in 2023.⁸

Projected: Linear Regression models predicted that the Off-Grid installed capacity in Liberia in 2030 will be 5.2 MW.

Current: In the year 2024, Liberia has 0 MW of On-grid capacity installed.

Projected: With the completion of Liberia’s first utility-scale solar plant in August 2025 at the Mt. Coffee Hydro facility the total On Grid Capacity will reach 20 MWp. ¹⁵

• The average monthly salary of a solar engineer in Liberia is 392 USD.¹⁶
• The Average monthly salary for a Solar Photovoltaic Installer in Liberia is 246 USD. ¹⁷

As of December 16, 2024, Liberia’s population stands at 5,666,743 individuals. The population density of Liberia is 58 people per square kilometre.¹⁸

Estimate for Factory Rent: The average warehouse or factory rent in Liberia is 10 USD /m²/month.¹⁹

Industrial Electricity Rates:  For nonresidential customers electricity charges are $ 0.242/kWh and for medium voltage customers (22kV or 33 kV) charges are $ 0.209 with some additional fixed charges.³

Water Costs: ²⁰

The cost of commercial water in Liberia depends on the type of customer and the amount of water consumed. Average rates are as follows:

Metered customers

The cost per gallon is based on the amount of water consumed:

• 5,001–25,000 gallons: $0.010 per gallon
• 25,001–50,000 gallons: $0.008 per gallon
• 50,001–100,000 gallons: $0.006 per gallon
• 100,001 gallons and above: $0.004 per gallon

Flat rate customers

The cost is based on the amount of water consumed:

• 5,001–50,000 gallons: $100
• 50,001–100,000 gallons: $200
• 100,001–250,000 gallons: $350
• 250,001–400,000 gallons: $500
• 400,001 gallons and above: $1,500

The Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation also charges a registration and meter fee of $25.

Key Components of Administrative Costs

Salaries and Wages:

• The average monthly salary of a solar engineer in Liberia is 392 USD.¹⁶
• The average monthly salary for a solar photovoltaic installer in Liberia is 246 USD. ¹⁷

Rent for Office Space: The average office space rent in Liberia is 13 USD /m²/month.²¹

• Total installed electricity generation capacity: 194 MW in 2022. ⁸
• Total generation: 383.721 GWh. in 2022. ⁸
• Per capita Electricity Generation: 149 kWh in 2022.⁵
• Per capita Electricity Consumption: less than 50 kWh per Capita per year.⁷

Generation mix: ⁸

Liberia’s electricity production relies mainly on fossil fuels, which generate 65.27% (250.157 GWh) of the total, followed by hydropower at 33.45% (128.25 GWh). Solar energy contributes 1.24% (4.755 GWh), while bioenergy from wood and agricultural waste accounts for less than 0.15%. This highlights a heavy dependence on non-renewables, with potential for expanding renewable energy sources.

Leading players: ²²

The four main players in the electricity sector of Liberia are the following:

• MME (Ministry of Mines & Energy): Policy & planning for energy sector.
• LERC (Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission): Independent electricity regulator.
• LEC (Liberia Electricity Corporation): State-owned utility company engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution, import, and sales of electricity
• RREA (Rural & Renewable Energy Agency): Promotes rural electrification via the private sector & renewables.

Transmission & Distribution: ²²

• The total length of the 66 KV transmission network in Liberia is 391.2 km.
• The National Utility (LEC) operates 466 km of 22kV and 230 km of 33kV distribution lines.
• The existing transformer capacity is 76MW.

Major power plants:

Thermal Power Plants:

Bushrod power plant ²³

• Fuel Type: Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO)
• Capacity: 38 megawatts (MW), comprising two 10 MW units and one 18 MW unit.
• Year Completed: The facility was completed in 2016 and is owned by the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC)

Renewable Energy sources

Hydropower:

Mount Coffee Hydroelectric Plant: ²⁴

The Mount Coffee Hydroelectric Plant is the largest hydroelectric power facility located in Careysburg, Montserrado County, Liberia. Here are the details of this plant:

• Commissioning Year: 1967
• Nameplate Capacity: 88 MW
• Turbines: 4 turbines, each with a capacity of 22 MW
• Technology Type: Run-of-river
• Owner: Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC)

Firestone Hydroelectric Power Station:

The Firestone Hydroelectric Power Station was built in 1942, located on the Farmington River in Harbel, Margibi County. Its Capacity is 4.8 MW.²⁵

The Renewable Energy Master Plan (RESMP) has identified a substantial 2,300 MW of hydropower potential in Liberia.⁴

Electricity from biomass:

Kwendin Biomass Power Plant: ²⁶

In Kwendin, Nimba County, the 1000KW Biomass Energy Plant uses wood chips, and coconut and palm kernel shells to produce affordable energy for over 200 households and more than 2,500 residents. It was financed by USAID.

Energy Imports:

Liberia imports a significant portion of its electricity from neighbouring countries, Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea. This power is transmitted through the West African Power Pool (WAPP) interconnection, a 650 km, 225 kV transmission line with a capacity of up to 290 MW. ⁷

²⁷

Certification for solar panels:

In Liberia, solar panels must meet specific requirements for certification, quality, and testing:

• A National Standards Laboratory (NSL) quality certificate is mandatory
• A valid Certificate of Conformity (CoC) issued by an approved Pre-export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) service provider, such as MedTech Scientific (MTS).
• A valid license from the Rural Renewable Energy Agency (RREA) with a declaration of the solar products being imported.

Quality Standards & Testing:

Solar panels must conform to these prescribed Liberian standards or other international technical standards recognized by Liberia:

• • LS IEC 60364-7-712: 2017
  • IEC 61215-1:2021
  • LS IEC 61215-2:2021
  • LS IEC 62258-1
  • LS IEC 62941: 2019
  • IEC 62257for stand-alone renewable energy products ≤ 350W
  • LS IEC 62257-9-5
  • IEC 61730
  • IEC TS 62804-1:2015
  • IEC TS 62804-1-1:2020
  • IEC TS 62804-2:2022

• The minimum efficiency of solar panels must be greater than 15 %.
• Testing must be completed within 14 days of submission to the NSL.

Liberia is a beneficiary of the World Bank Group’s $311 million World Bank Regional Emergency Solar Power Intervention Project (RESPITE). ²⁸

Liberia Renewable Energy Access Project (LIRENAP): The project supports the scale-up of the Government of Liberia’s initiative to foster a market for off-grid solar energy devices. ²⁹

Rural Energy Strategy and Master Plan (RESMP): This plan targets reaching 430,000 people with decentralized grids and mini-grids. It involves the incorporation of at least 60 MW of solar energy on the national grid and universal access to solar renewable lamps. ³⁰

²⁸

As of December 2024, 0 utility-scale solar power plants are operating in Liberia.

Projected Solar Projects:

Liberia’s first utility-scale solar plant is being constructed at the Mt. Coffee Hydro facility in Harrisburg, Montserrado County. The plant will have an installed capacity of 20 MWp. Liberia is set to complete its first utility-scale solar plant by August 2025.  ¹⁵

Another solar power plant of capacity 20 MW accompanied by a battery source of 10MWh was announced in 2023 to be built at Roberts International Airport by Liberia Electricity Corporation. (LEC).³¹

LIB Solar: LIB Solar focuses on installing, financing, and maintaining solar systems for rural communities. Their primary offering includes solar-powered lighting, phone charging, and radios, available for a monthly payment of $8.The company emphasizes a community-based model to enhance affordability and maintenance efficiency.

Website: https://www.lib.solar/

SJEDI Green Energy: SJEDI Green Energy specializes in distributing improved cookstoves and solar home systems. They finance, install, and maintain these products in both urban and rural communities, aiming to provide affordable clean energy solutions.

Website: https://sjedi.org/

Lib Renewable Energy (LRE): Lib Renewable Energy (LRE) is a prominent solar energy company based in Liberia, dedicated to providing innovative and cost-effective solar solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.

Website: https://librenewable.com/

Starlight Energy: Energicity’s Starlight Liberia project is focused on expanding access to reliable and affordable solar energy in underserved communities. In 2024, the initiative plans to install 1.3 MW of solar capacity across 10 communities in Liberia’s Western Region, benefiting at least 4,300 additional customers.

Website: https://energicitycorp.com/starlight-liberia/

Easy Solar: Easy Solar is a prominent provider of solar energy solutions in Liberia, established in 2019. The organization focuses on delivering tailored solar and battery storage systems to a variety of sectors, including education, healthcare, agriculture, and hospitality. With over 700 kW of installed capacity, Easy Solar aims to enhance energy reliability while promoting sustainability.

Website: https://www.easysolar-powersolutions.org/