{"id":7281,"date":"2026-06-01T16:46:37","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T16:46:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stage.thedaylight.org\/wp68\/?p=7281"},"modified":"2026-06-01T16:46:43","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T16:46:43","slug":"solar-farm-signals-liberias-push-toward-renewable-energy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stage.thedaylight.org\/wp68\/2026\/06\/01\/solar-farm-signals-liberias-push-toward-renewable-energy\/","title":{"rendered":"Solar Farm Signals Liberia\u2019s Push Toward Renewable Energy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Top: A partial view of the solar farm in Mount Coffee, Montserrado County. The DayLight\/Samuel T. Jabba<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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By Mark N. Mengonfia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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BENTOL, Montserrado \u2013 Under the scorching sun in Mount Coffee, Lower Montserrado County, rows of nearly 40,000 solar\u00a0panels stretch across rocky ground. Liberia\u2019s first-ever solar farm is part of efforts to reduce carbon emissions, strengthen electricity supply, and transition toward renewable energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The facility\u2019s 40,000 solar panels produce 710 watts each, along with 52 inverters connected to stations and substations that transfer electricity into the national grid. Crushed rocks spread across the facility help trap and redistribute heat energy to support power generation efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 20-megawatt facility, funded by the World Bank under its Regional Emergency Solar Intervention (RESPITE) project, is expected to increase Liberia\u2019s energy generation capacity by 15 percent, while reducing the country\u2019s dependence on heavy fuel and diesel-powered electricity generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think we have a great opportunity to improve our energy capacity and the economy. All we need is to muster the courage and work hard for it to happen,\u201d said Dominic Gono, RESPITE\u2019s project manager. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Construction of the solar farm began<\/a> in October 2024. Initially estimated at US$15.8 million, the project cost later increased by US$5.7 million because of additional operational and infrastructure expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first phase of the project complements Liberia\u2019s hydroelectric power generation, \u00a0supplying solar energy to Montserrado County and surrounding communities, particularly during the dry season when water levels at the Mount Coffee hydropower plant usually decline. It is already supplying electricity to the national grid, even as construction continues, Gono said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Picture2\"
A technician installs solar panels at the \u00a0Mount Coffee Solar Plant. The DayLight\/ Harry Browne<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It is also intended to enhance economic growth in Montserrado, an urban settlement with nearly 2 million people<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ophelia Vah is a resident of the Mount Coffee community, a petty trader who sells water and beverages. She believes that solar energy would help them once it starts to power the national grid, mainly during the dry seasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen the solar energy becomes stable, it will be a blessing to us and to Liberians in general because we will not be suffering from the heat,\u201d she said.  \u201cWith the coming of the solar system, we are hopeful the situation will change.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The World Bank has described the Mount Coffee solar project as a significant public-private partnership capable of strengthening Liberia\u2019s energy sector and accelerating economic growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pascal Donohoe, a World Bank official, said the initiative demonstrates the type of energy investment the institution intends to support in Liberia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis project will serve as an example of the type of initiative and partnership that the World Bank Group aims to support in Liberia\u2019s power generation sector,\u201d Donohoe said, per the Liberia Electricity Corporation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liberia\u2019s <\/strong>climate<\/strong> gains thus far<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Valued at over US$21 million, it is also seen as a major step toward helping Liberia fulfill its international climate commitments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liberia has a moderate emission rate of 4.3 tonnes per capita per year, a level consistent with the climate action requirement, according to Global Climate Change data. Despite the country\u2019s low emissions, it made commitments to the international community, or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). It has committed to add 150 megawatts of clean energy to its national energy plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf we want to implement our NDC, we have to go to renewable energy. That\u2019s why that Mount Coffee project is important, but not only that project; we have smaller projects like the one at EPA,\u201d said Dr. Emmanuel Yarkpawolo, the Executive Director of the EPA. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emissions caused by fossil fuels\u2014in coal, oil\/gas and other things\u2014hurt the climate and are by far\u00a0the largest contributor to global climate change, accounting for around 68 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists say greenhouse gas emissions blanket the earth, trap the sun\u2019s heat and, subsequently, warm up and change the climate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Solar
Another view of the Montserrado solar plant. The DayLight\/Samuel T. Jabba <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Liberia\u2019s contribution to climate change is negligible, but, like other African countries, it bears the brunt of climate change, such as changes in rainfall, crop failure and coastal erosion. The country needs US$2.5-3 billion to fulfill its climate pledges, but it requires more financing and technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRenewable energy is very important to Liberia and the global community,\u201d Yarkpawolo said. \u201cThe traditional way of generating power through fossil fuels has been detrimental to environmental sustainability.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Top: A partial view of the solar farm in Mount Coffee, Montserrado County. The DayLight\/Samuel T. Jabba By Mark N. Mengonfia BENTOL, Montserrado \u2013 Under the scorching sun in Mount Coffee, Lower Montserrado County, rows of nearly 40,000 solar\u00a0panels stretch across rocky ground. Liberia\u2019s first-ever solar farm is part of efforts to reduce carbon emissions, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":7284,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[46,64],"tags":[3224,1648,107,3223],"class_list":["post-7281","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-energy","category-renewable-energy","tag-dr-emmanuel-yarkpawolo","tag-environmental-protection-agency","tag-liberia","tag-mount-coffee-solar-plant"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\n","aioseo_head_json":{"title":"Solar Farm Signals Liberia\u2019s Push Toward Renewable Energy","description":"BENTOL, Montserrado \u2013 Under the scorching sun in Mount Coffee, Lower Montserrado County, rows of nearly 40,000 solar panels stretch across rocky ground.","canonical_url":"https:\/\/stage.thedaylight.org\/wp68\/2026\/06\/01\/solar-farm-signals-liberias-push-toward-renewable-energy\/","robots":"noindex, nofollow, max-image-preview:large","keywords":"","webmasterTools":{"msvalidate.01":"CA6BD2F84653EA44942A55ABC0B35372","miscellaneous":""},"schema":null,"og:locale":"en_US","og:site_name":"The DayLight - The DayLight is a nonprofit, environmental news website. 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