Country snapshot · West Africa
Benin
Solar added each year
Ember estimates of all solar (utility-scale, distributed and off-grid), MW. 2026 is Ember’s full-year estimate.
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| Year | MW | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 69.8 | Ember estimate |
| 2024 | 23.5 | Ember estimate |
| 2025 | 97.1 | Ember estimate |
| 2026E | 50.0 | Ember estimate, full year |
0.3% of Africa’s estimated 2026 solar additions (50.0 of 17,449.4 MW).1
Who has electricity
Share of people with access to electricity, 2024: rural and urban.
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| Area | Access | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Rural | 45.0% | 2024 |
| Urban | 71.6% | 2024 |
| National | 59.0% | 2024 |
World Bank WDI, 2024.2
How reliable is the grid for business?
Firms experiencing electrical outages (2024 survey), compared with Sub-Saharan Africa and the world.3,4N4
86.1% (2024 survey) · Sub-Saharan Africa 72.4% · World 47.5% (2025)
The rules for small-scale generationN5
Export rules: Partial
- Regulator
- ARE (Benin)
- Main utility
- SBEE
Export rulesElectricity Code 2020 allows self-producer surplus injection up to 50% of authorised capacity; the implementing order was not found.5,6High confidenceShow detail
**Code de l'électricité, Loi 2020-05 (1 Apr 2020).** The law defines the autoproducteur as someone who may sell surplus to a distribution network operator. Art. 27 allows surplus injection up to **50% of authorised capacity**, set in the purchase contract, with injection rules to come by ministerial arrêté prioritising RE. That arrêté was **not found**.
How exports are creditedNone found; the Code sets no price.5,6Medium confidenceShow detail
None found. The Code sets no price; the regulator has drafted model contracts; AEP recommends standard RE purchase contracts.
Size limits and licensingThresholds set by decree (not found). Off-grid: authorisation up to 500 kVA.5,6High confidenceShow detail
Art. 33: declaration to ARE below a threshold set by decree. Art. 34: authorisation above that threshold, excluding purely domestic use. **No kW figure is in the law**, and the decree was not found. Off-grid: authorisation up to 500 kVA; concession above.
Mini-grid rules2020 Code defines pico- and mini-grids and the off-grid regime.5,6Medium confidenceShow detail
The 2020 Code defines pico- and mini-grids and the off-grid authorisation and concession regime (500 kVA split). AEP says a mini-grid connection code has been developed and grid-arrival rules clarified (no year).
Market access beyond the utilityRight of access to public networks, with priority for renewables.5,6High confidenceShow detail
Art. 29 guarantees a right of access to public transmission and distribution networks, with priority for RE. An operator may refuse only on security, safety or quality grounds, notified to ARE. "Eligible customer" third-party supply is defined in Art. 5.
Aggregation / VPP rulesNone foundShow detail
None found
“None found” means we could not locate a rule in public sources reviewed to 10 October 2026, not that one cannot exist.
Recent developments
Dated developments, 2024–2026.
The full report
This is a snapshot. The full story is in Africa’s Invisible Grid.
The full analysis, with 17 exhibits on the boom, the data gap, the economics and the four building blocks, is in Africa’s Invisible Grid.
