São Tomé and Principe, with a population of about 220,000 people, is one of the smallest countries in Africa. It consists of two main islands near the Equator, with rainforests and many beaches. As is common on islands, there is a great dependence on imported goods. One of these imports is diesel, which the country uses to generate electricity. Most of the energy generated in São Tomé and Principe comes from fossil fuels, which harms both the environment and the country’s energy independence. A solution would be to focus on renewable energy. Sources of renewable energy in Sao Tome and Principe are more sustainable in the long term and can reduce its reliance on imported diesel for electricity.

Current Energy Situation

Renewable energy in Sao Tome and Principe is no longer just an option; it is a necessity. In 2022, 95% of all the country’s electricity generation relied on oil, which is imported, creating a big problem. This heavy dependence on imported diesel creates high electricity prices. The cost of the kilowatt per hour in São Tomé and Príncipe is $0.18, while in the neighboring country of Nigeria, it is a much lower rate of $0.035.

As a result, grid coverage in the country is limited, with approximately 78% of the population having access to electricity, and many people experience frequent outages. That means many people in São Tomé and Príncipe still use candles as the main source of light in their houses and have to burn biomass when they need to cook.

Electricity is essential. Homes, businesses, hospitals and schools all need electricity to function properly. The economy of a country is directly linked to its capacity to generate energy.

Renewable Energy Potential

One of the significant advantages of São Tomé and Principe is its enormous potential for renewable energy. This tropical island nation has mountainous terrain, rainforests and abundant water resources. Even though only 5% of the country’s electricity comes from solar and hydro power, Sao Tome and Principe can do so much more on both these sources.

• Solar: Situated almost on the Equator, the country enjoys sunny days throughout the year, providing a sustainable way to generate electricity.
  
• Hydropower: This form of energy generation was common in the country and could become widely used again with improvements to the current infrastructure. The creation of small hydro plants is a great alternative to strengthen electricity distribution in the country.
  

Current Projects and International Support

The government of São Tomé and Principe is aware of this energy challenge. It is taking concrete steps to address it, making renewable energy in São Tomé and Príncipe a reality. The goal is to achieve full electricity coverage in the country by 2030 with 50% of generation coming from renewable sources.

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is a partner in this effort, along with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the African Development Bank (AfDB). Their goal is to promote energy efficiency and increase the use of renewable energy sources.

A recent example is the launch of a photovoltaic solar park in São Tomé and Principe, with a capacity of 1.2 megawatts. This demonstrates the country’s intention to reduce dependence on imported diesel for electricity.

As mentioned above, foreign investment is key to developing renewable energy in São Tomé and Príncipe. With early initial successes, more external financing is likely to follow.

Environmental, Social and Economic Benefits

The development of renewable energy brings many benefits:

• Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Using less fossil fuel to generate electricity means lower greenhouse gas emissions, which benefits the environment.
• Lower Energy Costs in the Long Term: Initially, the infrastructure for renewable energy can be expensive, such as building a dam. However, in the long run, this option is cheaper than continuously importing diesel. The installation of the solar park mentioned above has already eliminated the use of 15,000 liters of fuel, according to Sao Tome and Principe’s Prime Minister.
• Better Access to Electricity for Rural Areas: Rural communities can benefit greatly from renewable energy. Solar and hydro facilities can be installed near these areas, solving access and transportation challenges.
• Support for Tourism: Tourism requires reliable electricity to grow. Using renewable energy is also a strong selling point. Additionally, tourism creates jobs, injects money into the local economy and increases the country’s visibility. With a contribution of up to 11% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), tourism is on the rise in Sao Tome and Principe and the energy production improvement in the country is sure to make it even more important.

Challenges and Future Outlook

The challenges for Sao Tome and Principe are clear: a lack of funding for large-scale renewable energy investments, a shortage of technical expertise and infrastructure gaps. However, these barriers can be overcome. The country’s full potential could make Sao Tome and Principe a model for other tropical island nations seeking a viable and sustainable energy system.

– Thiago Almeida de Andrade

Thiago is based in Edmonton, Canada and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay