Ivory Coast Powers 370,000 Homes With New Solar Plant

In a country where electricity was a luxury just over a decade ago, 370,000 households in northern Ivory Coast now have access to clean, affordable solar power thanks to a newly inaugurated solar plant.

The Ferké solar facility spans 70 hectares in the Tchologo region and features more than 73,000 solar panels working together to generate 90 gigawatt hours of electricity each year. The $71.5 million project will power not just homes but also schools, health centers, and businesses across one of the country's most underserved regions.

The timing couldn't be better. Back in 2011, only about a third of people in Ivory Coast had access to electricity. Today, that number has soared to 90 percent, and projects like Ferké are helping close the gap.

Deputy Prime Minister Téné Birahima Ouattara called solar power a "real opportunity" for the nation during the inauguration ceremony. He emphasized how the plant will reduce energy costs, speed up rural electrification, and create jobs for young people while strengthening the country's energy independence.

This isn't a one-off success story. Ferké is actually the second major solar plant to open in Ivory Coast this year, following the Boundiali solar project that launched in April 2024. Several more are already in the pipeline, including two 50-megawatt facilities and another 52-megawatt plant, all scheduled to go live before 2028.

The Ripple Effect

Ivory Coast's solar ambitions extend far beyond these individual projects. The country has set a bold target of generating 46.3 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2035, including more than 1.3 gigawatts of solar capacity.

The transformation is already underway. According to the Africa Solar Industry Association, Ivory Coast now has 660 megawatts of operational solar power, with another 199 megawatts under construction. That growth means cleaner air, lower energy costs, and thousands of new jobs in communities that desperately need economic opportunity.

For rural families who once relied on expensive diesel generators or simply went without power, solar energy is changing daily life in profound ways. Children can study after dark, health clinics can refrigerate vaccines, and small businesses can operate into the evening hours.

Ivory Coast is showing the world what's possible when a nation commits to bringing power and opportunity to all its people.