According to IRENA, Chad has installed around 2 MW of solar PV capacity as of 2023. ⁵

There is no publicly available data on the total projected solar PV capacity in Chad. However, Chad’s solar PV capacity is projected to grow significantly in the coming years with projects like the Savannah Energy 500MW target. ⁶

Specific data on the cost of natural gas in Chad is not readily available because the cost of generating electricity from natural gas, diesel and heavy fuel oil in Chad can vary based on several factors, including the price, the efficiency of the power plants, and operational costs.

Generating electricity from diesel in Chad is relatively expensive compared to other sources. In 2023, gasoline and diesel prices stood at US$0.84 per liter and US$1.06 per liter, respectively. ⁷

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Non-renewables

• Diesel, HFO and Natural gas: 94%

Renewables

• Solar: 1%
• Wind: 3%
• Bioenergy: 2%

On average, the national grid provides electricity for about 8 hours per day. This can vary significantly depending on the region and the time of year. ⁸

The exact number of residential solar panel installations in Chad isn’t readily available.

As of 2023, Chad has one (1) operational solar farm. However, there are several other solar projects in development, no additional solar farms have been completed yet. ⁶

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Off-grid solar PV systems are becoming increasingly important in Chad, especially for rural and remote areas where access to the national grid is limited. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, by the end of 2021, Chad only had 1 MW of grid-connected solar capacity and 227 kW of off-grid solar systems.

A standalone 78kWp, ground-mounted solar PV system with 324kWh of battery storage has been installed in Mandelia.

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Chad has been actively working to boost its grid-connected solar PV capacity. As of 2021, the country had just 1 MW of grid-connected solar. However, there are significant plans for expansion. Savannah Energy, for example, is set to develop up to 300 MW of solar capacity to power its Doba Oil Project and surrounding areas. Additionally, the World Bank has greenlit a project to enhance grid-connected renewable energy capacity in Chad and other West African nations.

Solar PV installer: A Solar Photovoltaic Installer in N’Djamena typically earns around $6,150 USD per year. This can range from about $2,890 USD to $9,670 USD. ¹²

Solar Engineer: A Solar Engineer in N’Djamena typically earns around $9,990 USD per year. This can range from about $4,600 USD to $15,870 USD. ¹³

Project manager: A Project Manager in N’Djamena typically earns around $12,590 USD per year. This can range from about $6,050 USD to $19,770 USD. ¹⁴

The current population of the Republic of Chad is 20,486,996 as of Tuesday, October 8, 2024, based on Worldometer’s elaboration of the latest United Nations data. ¹⁰

Factory rent/mortgage

The rental costs can vary widely based on location, size and facilities provided.

Utilities (electricity, water, etc.)

Electricity: As of 2022, the average cost of electricity in Chad is $0.16 per kilowatt-hour (kWh). ¹⁵

Water: The average cost of electricity in Chad is $0.063 per cubic meter ²⁸

Equipment maintenance

The cost of maintaining solar equipment generally includes expenses for regular inspections, cleaning, lubrication, monitoring systems and training for technicians.

Administrative costs

Salary and wages: The average salary range for a Solar PV Installer  in Chad varies between $2,890 USD and $9,670 USD. The average salary range for a Solar PV Engineer in Chad varies between $4,600 USD to $15,870 USD.

Research and development

The cost of research and development varies depending on the manufacturer’s expertise, experience, and the degree of innovation of its solar panels.

• Electricity generation: As of 2023, Chad’s installed electricity generation capacity stands at approximately 48 MW. The majority of this electricity is produced using fossil fuels, such as heavy fuel oil and diesel. ²
• Electricity consumption: Chad’s electricity consumption is among the lowest per capita in the world, primarily due to limited access to electricity. In 2022, the country’s total electricity consumption was about 302 GWh, with a per capita consumption of approximately 17.3 kWh. ¹⁷
• Grid Infrastructure: Chad’s electric grid is confined to N’Djamena and frequently experiences outages. Additionally, the country lacks a comprehensive national electric power strategy, resulting in highly localized power generation. ¹⁶
• Energy Access: As of 2022, only 11.7% of the total national population in Chad has access to electricity. 1.3% of the rural population has access to electricity and 44.5% of the urban areas. ⁹

Specific regulations on the production of solar panels in Chad is not publicly available because the use of solar panels is still in its developing stage.

Desert-to-Power Roadmap: In collaboration with the African Development Bank, Chad has created a roadmap aimed at expanding utility-scale solar generation capacity and implementing decentralized energy solutions. This plan includes targets for increasing solar capacity and establishing new off-grid connections by 2030. ¹⁸

Tax exemptions: In Chad, the government has introduced measures to encourage solar energy adoption, including fiscal incentives like tax exemptions on imported solar equipment. Additionally, they have set an ambitious target of transitioning 50% of the country’s energy supply to renewable sources. ¹⁹

Development finance: The U.S. Development Finance Corporation has extended loans to assist in the development of off-grid solar solutions in Chad. ²⁰

Djermaya Solar Project

Location: Djermaya, 30 km north of Chad’s capital, N’Djamena.

Capacity: 60MW

Details: The project was financed from the EU-Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund (EU-AIT). The solar farm is under development. ²¹

Abeche Solar Power plant 

Location: Abeche

Capacity: 5MW

Details: Should have been ready by 2023, but I couldn’t find any evidence that it is operational! ²²

Bithéa Solar Power plant 

Location: Bithéa

Capacity: 500kWp

Details: Commissioned in 2020, and meant to serve Bithéa’s water pumping station. ²⁹

Centrales d’Energie

Location: N’Djamena, Chad

Capacity: 100MW

Details: Announced and planned to be commissioned 2024. Owned by Savanna Energy PLC. ²³

Gaoui Solar farm 

Location: Gaoui, Chad.

Capacity: consists of two phases with 50MWp/dc each

Details: Currently under construction and fully owned by Merl solar technologies. ²⁴

Savannah Energy: Savannah Energy PLC is a British independent energy company dedicated to developing and executing essential energy projects across Africa. This company is working on several large-scale solar projects including the Centrales d’Energie Renouvelable, aiming to significantly boost Chad’s renewable energy capacity. ⁶²⁵

Kouran Jabo: This startup focuses on providing low-income households with access to clean solar energy, offering affordable solar solutions for rural areas. This company is committed to bringing solar energy to all levels of society in Chad by selling solar lamps and kits to households and businesses, as well as offering training programs in the installation and maintenance of solar equipment. ²⁶

InnoVent: This company is involved in renewable energy projects across Africa and has developed the Abeche Solar Power Plant in Chad. They aim at increasing energy access in the region. ²⁷