Liberia Electrification Energy Storage System

The country will need to invest heavily in energy infrastructure to achieve universal access to electricity by 2030 . The primary energy sources in Liberia are traditional biomass fuels such as firewood and charcoal, which account for more than 80 % of the country's total energy consumption [5, 12, 13].

One strategy is to diversify the energy mix by increasing the share of domestic renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, for electricity generation. By harnessing these indigenous and sustainable energy resources, Liberia can decrease its reliance on imported fuels and enhance its energy security.

Only 3 % of Liberians had grid electricity access in 2019, among the lowest globally. Traditional biomass use poses indoor air pollution risks, especially for women and children. Outdated infrastructure, fuel dependence, and funding constraints hinder progress. Abundant renewables, international support, and off-grid options offer solutions.

3.2. Imported electricity Liberia imports electricity from neighboring Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea through the West African Power Pool (WAPP) interconnection, which involved 650 km of 225 kV transmission lines, with a transit capacity of ≤290 MW – making it the largest source of imported electricity for the country in 2020.

The primary challenge to energy access in Liberia is the limited and underdeveloped energy infrastructure. The lack of adequate power generation, transmission, and distribution systems contributes to this low access rate. The electrification rate is significantly lower in rural areas, where most of the population resides .

To overcome these challenges, Liberia has been exploring alternative solutions to reduce its dependency on imported fuels for thermal power generation. One strategy is to diversify the energy mix by increasing the share of domestic renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, for electricity generation.