The UNDP Guinea-Bissau CO, in cooperation with the UNDP Information & Technology Management (ITM) Green Energy Team, has taken initial steps toward implementing stand-alone solar PV systems for 6 remote communities in Cacheu region. This endeavor will consist of 95 individual stand-alone systems, comprising a total of 407 kWp solar PV with a 1,671 kWh Lithium-Ion battery system.

In the Cacheu region, women play a key role in the local economy, but often face challenges accessing education, employment and resources. The introduction of solar PV systems not only provides access to electricity, but also creates economic opportunities for women, promoting their empowerment and autonomy. In the six (6) localities targeted, almost 100 per cent of the households in the communities visited do not have any kind of electricity network, i.e. only in a few cases can electricity be seen to be available, with reference to the residence of the régulo in the community of Mata and the régulo in the community of Cobiana; and a shop in the community of Poilão de Leão, which have a precarious solar electricity system, respectively. The rest of the houses in all the villages in the communities visited have no electricity supply system.

The load has been estimated from prospected appliances, local energy resources, and data provided by collected during site assessment (Annex 1). Based on the projection of the load consumption, the new solar PV systems will be the only source of power, supplying 100% of the electricity consumption.

A solar installation in the Cacheu region will allow for power supply, improving access to electricity and creating economic opportunities for women. All while promoting sustainable development in the region.