Renewable energy is any form of energy that comes from natural resources. An important component of renewable energy is its source. For energy to be renewable, it must come from a place that replenishes. Some examples of renewable energy include the sun and wind.

It is now a common trend for new and developing countries to adopt renewable energy as their main energy source, with Liberia currently working to incorporate more renewable energy into its energy sector. The country’s plans for renewable energy seek to rectify its inadequate power situation. According to a study by the International Energy Agency in 2019, only 3% of the population had access to the electrical grid.

What Is the Issue?

Like many other countries in the world, Liberia mostly relies on common forms of energy. Its major source of energy is biomass fuel, which includes firewood and charcoal. Another important source of electricity for the country is the combination of hydroelectric power and diesel generators. These sources are only available to a limited portion of the population, as the more remote the area, the lower the probability of electricity being produced in the area.

Renewable energy usage in Liberia is low, with hydroelectric power accounting for just 6% of energy consumption. This is due to a reliance on traditional sources of electricity and energy. Liberia has great potential to harness renewable energy from sources such as solar energy and hydro biomass (a combination of energy from dead animals/plants and water). However, the main challenge in Liberia’s adoption of renewable energy is obtaining the necessary resources to do so.

The Goal

In 2024, Liberia announced in the National Determined Contribution Document that it plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 64%. The goal is to reach this number by 2030. The country also wants to use around 30% renewable energy after 2030. To achieve these goals, Liberia is looking for monetary help from countries and organizations abroad.

The help from other organizations began in 2017 when the Climate Investment Fund Awarded the country around $23 million to help remodel the country’s energy sector. Further, the Green Climate Fund aims to help with climate change around the world. Since 2017, the fund has donated $44 million to help reach the country’s energy goals.

How Is It Going?

Renewable energy is slowly becoming a reality in Liberia. Starting in 2018, Sun Star Green Energy, a renewable energy company, installed more than 10,000 solar-powered homes and solar lamps in the country’s rural areas. Implementing these homes is helping the residents in the area immensely, giving residents a chance to have electricity.

In that same year, the Millennium Challenge Corporation fixed the Mount Coffee hydropower plant in the country. As of now, the new plant produces 88 watts of power, which is twice as much as the country used to produce. Ultimately, renewable energy in Liberia is on track to have a bright future with the help and resources of others to facilitate it.

– Madison McCray

Madison is based in Rockhill, SC, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

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