IRENA-ECREEE Energy Planning Capacity Building Programme

The study is undertaken to understand technical and economic implications of implementing renewable policy targets in the future power system adopting a scenario analyses approach. The time horizon of the study is 2010 till 2030. IRENA¿s SPLAT-W tool is used to develop two scenario, Reference scenario and Renewable target scenario; Whereas, Renewable scenario is built upon the Reference scenario with additional consideration of a constraint on renewable energy policy target. Sierra Leone needs 1646 MW in 2020 and further to 2351 MW in 2030 to meet its steep rise in electricity demand. Coal and hydro would dominate the future power system followed by the small quantity of biomass. Oil capacity stays in the system, but generation is almost nil. Coal replaces oil, but as Sierra Leone does not have domestic coal resources, so import dependence will continue. During the study period 2010 to 2030 to construct grid connected new power generation capacity, Sierra Leone needs investment. However, electricity supply costs increase marginally and additional investment requirement is by 400 million US$.