France supports the development of energy storage in Togo
West Africa: Togo Launches Pilot Energy Storage Project Amid Regional Energy Transition
In West Africa, access to reliable electricity remains one of the main challenges to development. This makes regional energy transition initiatives all the more significant. One such effort is currently underway in Togo, where support has been announced for a pilot 55 MW energy storage project.
France and GEAPP Invest in Togo’s Energy Future
During the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, it was announced that AFD (French Development Agency) and GEAPP (Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet) will allocate USD 200,000 to finance the feasibility study of the battery project in Togo.
Although symbolic in financial terms, this investment has strategic importance — it represents the first step toward developing a national roadmap for energy storage and could serve as a model project for other African nations.
The planned 55 MW battery system will act as a grid stabilizer, addressing the growing share of solar energy in the national energy mix. Currently, about 40% of Togo’s population still lacks access to electricity, but the government in Lomé aims to achieve universal access by 2030.
Mission 300 and Togo’s National Energy Pact
The battery project forms part of a broader initiative known as “Mission 300”, launched by the World Bank and the African Development Bank to provide electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030. Within this framework, 17 countries, including Togo, have adopted National Energy Compacts outlining concrete actions toward decarbonization and increased renewable energy deployment.
Despite its small size and limited resources, Togo’s ambitions are striking. By 2030, the country aims for 63% of its installed capacity to come from renewable sources (compared to roughly 26% today) and to expand its energy storage capacity to 156 MWh (up from the current 4 MWh).
As Woochong Um, Managing Director of GEAPP, emphasized:
“Togo’s ambitious energy commitments will deliver clean power, clean air, jobs, and opportunities for millions. This is true leadership — bold national goals coupled with realistic pathways to achieve them.”
Batteries: The Missing Link in Africa’s Energy Transition
Across Africa, electricity generation is still dominated by thermal power plants and imports from neighboring countries. Increasing the share of renewables—especially solar PV—without adequate buffering systems risks grid instability and forces reliance on fossil fuels during evening hours.
Battery storage systems like the one planned in Togo enable grid balancing, loss reduction, and integration of distributed renewable sources. For countries with rapidly growing electricity demand, they represent not only a stabilizing element but also a catalyst for economic growth.
As Rémy Rioux, CEO of AFD, noted:
“The project will bring tangible benefits to the people: reliable energy supply, energy security, and new economic opportunities.”
Solar Expansion in Sokodé
France’s cooperation with Togo in the energy sector extends beyond storage. In October, the African Development Bank and Proparco (part of the AFD Group) announced financial support for the construction of a 62 MWp solar power plant in Sokodé, Togo’s second-largest city.
The EUR 61 million project, developed by French investor Meridiam and EDF, will generate around 87 GWh of electricity annually and includes the construction of an 11 km transmission line. This investment not only supports Togo’s 2030 renewable energy targets but also significantly enhances national energy security.
It is also worth noting that GEAPP plans to bring together 30 African countries under its Battery Energy Storage System Consortium with the goal of deploying 5 GW of battery storage capacity across the continent.