Senegal’s Solar Revolution Goes Local: New Hybrid Inverter Assembly Line Opens in Diamniadio, Powering West Africa’s Clean Energy Hub

DIAMNIADIO, Senegal – June 30, 2026 – In a historic milestone for Senegal’s energy independence, government officials, industry leaders, and renewable energy stakeholders gathered today at the Diamniadio Industrial Park to inaugurate the country’s first large-scale local assembly facility for off-grid hybrid solar inverters. The new production line will manufacture the EM Series of hybrid inverters—offering capacities from 1.5kW to 6.2kW with advanced MPPT solar charging technology—marking a decisive shift from equipment importing to domestic manufacturing and positioning Senegal as West Africa’s emerging hub for solar technology production.

The ceremony, held at the newly established facility in Diamniadio—Senegal’s flagship industrial zone located approximately 30 kilometres from Dakar—was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Energy, Petroleum and Mines, the National Agency for Renewable Energy (ANER), the Rural Electrification Agency (ASER), and key private-sector partners. The event coincided with a pivotal moment for Senegal’s energy sector: just days earlier, the ECOWAS Parliament concluded a five-day joint committee meeting in Dakar focused on advancing renewable energy deployment and accelerating rural electrification across West Africa.

Designed for Senegal’s Unique Climate and Terrain

Senegal’s geography presents distinct challenges for energy infrastructure. The country spans diverse climatic zones—from the humid coastal belt along the Atlantic to the arid Sahelian interior in the north and east, where temperatures regularly exceed 40°C and dust storms are common during the dry season. The EM Series inverters, with their detachable dust covers and wide operating temperature range of -10°C to 50°C, are engineered to withstand these harsh conditions. Their ability to operate without batteries and compatibility with LiFePO4 batteries via RS485 communication make them particularly well-suited for Senegal’s varied applications—from coastal urban centres to remote Sahelian villages.

“Senegal has more sunshine than Germany, more wind than Denmark, and more coastline than the Netherlands. The question was never whether we could power ourselves—it was when we would choose to do so,” Thierno Seydou Ly, Senegal’s Minister of Energy and Petroleum, famously observed. Today, that choice is being realised through local manufacturing that puts solar technology directly in the hands of Senegalese communities.

Closing the Rural-Urban Energy Divide

Senegal has made remarkable progress in electrification, with the national access rate rising from 45 percent to 88 percent over the past eight years. However, a significant urban-rural divide persists: while 97.3 percent of urban residents are connected to the grid, only 54.6 percent of rural dwellers have access to electricity. More than 30 percent of rural communities remain without power.

The EM Series inverters—available in 1.5kW, 2.5kW, 3.5kW, 5.5kW, and 6.2kW models with pure sine wave output and surge power capacities reaching up to 12,400VA—are designed to bridge this gap. Their multiple output priority modes (UTL, SOL, SBU, SUB) allow users to prioritise solar, battery, or grid power based on local conditions, while the built-in MPPT solar charge controllers (up to 120A) maximise energy harvest from Senegal’s abundant sunshine.

The locally assembled units will directly support the government’s National Energy Pact, unveiled at the Mission 300 energy summit in January 2025, which targets providing electricity to an additional 6.6 million people by 2030. They will also complement the $13 million ASER–IRENA project, launched in early July, which is installing and rehabilitating mini solar power plants across Matam, Saint-Louis, Louga, Kaffrine and Tambacounda—regions where electricity access remains critically low.

Advancing Senegal’s Green Industrialisation Agenda

The Diamniadio facility represents more than an energy project—it is a cornerstone of Senegal’s broader industrial strategy. The facility is situated within one of eight Green Energy Zones (GEZ) identified in a new study co-published by UNIDO, Senegal’s Ministry of Environment and Ecological Transition, and Climate Parliament. These zones are dedicated areas that combine renewable energy generation with industrial production, aimed at attracting investment, creating jobs, increasing local value addition, and reducing emissions.

“All the key sectors targeted for the revival of the national economy—such as agriculture, livestock farming, fisheries, tourism, health and nutrition, and access to water—remain more or less linked to industrialisation based on renewable energy,” Honourable Samba Dang, Vice-President of the National Assembly of Senegal, underscored at the GEZ validation workshop in April.

The local assembly of EM Series inverters directly supports Senegal’s target of increasing renewable energy’s share to 40 percent of installed capacity by 2030, backed by a €2.5 billion facility under the country’s Just Energy Transition Partnership. It also aligns with the government’s recent decision to exempt 22 categories of renewable energy equipment from the 18 percent value-added tax, a policy measure designed to accelerate solar adoption nationwide.

Built for Senegal, By Senegal

The EM Series inverters assembled at the new facility feature lithium battery activation by PV or utility, compatibility with LiFePO4 batteries via RS485 communication, and the ability to operate without batteries—a critical flexibility for off-grid applications where battery costs can be prohibitive. The inverters also include equalisation (EQ) functions to optimise battery performance and extend lifecycle, reducing long-term ownership costs for Senegalese households and businesses.

With peak efficiency of 96 percent from PV to inverter and 93 percent from battery to inverter, the locally assembled units deliver significant energy savings over their operational lifespan—a crucial advantage in a country where energy costs remain a major economic burden.

Industry analysts project that Africa’s single-phase PV inverter market will grow from an estimated USD 420–480 million in 2026 to approximately USD 1.1–1.4 billion by 2035, driven by rapid residential and small commercial solar adoption across the continent. Senegal’s installed solar capacity has already reached 671 MW, ranking third in West Africa behind Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, and the country is well-positioned to capture a significant share of this growing market.

A Regional Beacon for Clean Energy Manufacturing

The inauguration of the Diamniadio assembly facility signals Senegal’s emergence as a regional manufacturing hub for solar technology. The country’s strategic location, stable investment climate, and ambitious energy transition roadmap have attracted increasing interest from international partners seeking to establish local production footholds in West Africa.

“Senegal is advancing a structured roadmap to develop its renewable energy sector, with a target of 40% renewable energy in its electricity mix by 2030,” noted a senior official from the Ministry of Energy, Petroleum and Mines who spoke at the inauguration. “Localising the production of critical components like hybrid inverters reduces our dependence on imports, creates skilled jobs, and ensures that Senegalese families and businesses have access to affordable, reliable clean energy.”

The EM Series inverters assembled at the Diamniadio facility will be prioritised for government-backed rural electrification projects, including the World Bank-supported Senegal Energy Access Scale-Up Project, which aims to electrify nearly 200,000 households, as well as 600 health centres and 200 schools. They will also support the government’s goal of achieving universal electricity access by 2029.

About the EM Series Hybrid Inverters:

The EM Series is a range of off-grid hybrid solar inverters available in 1.5kW, 2.5kW, 3.5kW, 5.5kW, and 6.2kW models. Key features include:

• Pure sine wave output with power factor 1.0

• PV input voltage range of 60Vdc to 500Vdc

• Built-in MPPT solar charge controller (60A–120A)

• Lithium battery activation by PV or utility

• LiFePO4 battery communication via RS485

• Capable of operating without batteries

• Detachable dust cover for harsh environments

• Optional Wi-Fi remote monitoring

• Multiple output priority modes (UTL, SOL, SBU, SUB)

• Equalisation function for battery lifecycle extension