The village of Keur Nyangane in southern Senegal, with a population of 1,200, has gained reliable access to electricity thanks to the installation of an off-grid solar power plant called Solartainer. This mini power station, housed in a shipping container and fitted with 144 solar panels and batteries, provides continuous electricity to 149 homes and businesses, including street lighting and educational institutions.
The project was carried out by the German company Africa GreenTec, and financing came from the sale of carbon credits accumulated by ChargePoint, an operator of EV charging stations in Germany. In this way, Europeans charging electric cars indirectly helped support the development of clean energy in Africa.
The station provides 56 kWp of power and 55 streetlights, improving safety, expanding economic opportunities, and raising the quality of life for the village residents. Such mini-grids based on renewable energy are becoming especially relevant for countries with dispersed populations, where extending centralized power lines is extremely expensive or impossible.
