Country snapshot · West Africa
Burkina Faso
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 | 79.4 | Ember estimate |
| 2024 | 99.8 | Ember estimate |
| 2025 | 75.7 | Ember estimate |
| 2026E | 32.2 | Ember estimate, full year |
0.2% of Africa’s estimated 2026 solar additions (32.2 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 | 12.7% | 2024 |
| Urban | 87.8% | 2024 |
| National | 34.0% | 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.3,4N5
92.5% (2024 survey) · Sub-Saharan Africa 72.4% · World 47.5% (2025)
The rules for small-scale generationN1,N6
Export rules: Partial
- Regulator
- ARSE
- Main utility
- SONABEL
Export rulesDecree 2019-0902 covers self-producer grid access and buy-back; its tariff order has not been adopted. No net-metering tariff.5Medium confidenceShow detail
Décret n°2019-0902 covers autoproducer grid access and buy-back, and appears to be in force. Its tariff arrêté had **not** been adopted. Décret n°2020-1053 sets autoproduction conditions. No tariff structure applies directly to net metering.
How exports are creditedSurplus paid by contract (six contracts reviewed paid 48 FCFA/kWh); sale capped at 30% of installed capacity.5Medium confidenceShow detail
The grid operator must pay for surplus it takes. Grid connection for sale is capped at 30% of installed capacity. No national tariff exists, so prices are set by contract; six contracts reviewed paid 48 FCFA/kWh.
Size limits and licensingSelf-generation: declaration to 500 kW, authorisation above; renewables ≤5 kW exempt.5Medium confidenceShow detail
**Autoproduction:** declaration up to 500 kW; authorisation above 500 kW (Décret 2020-1053). RE systems of 5 kW or less are exempt from declaration. **Independent production:** declaration up to 250 kW; authorisation from 250 to 1,000 kW; licence above 1,000 kW.
Mini-grid rulesNo dedicated regime described.5Medium confidenceShow detail
No dedicated mini-grid regime is described. Décret n°2020-0255 covers concessions and distribution authorisations.
Market access beyond the utilityEligible clients (≥50 MW, 300,000 MWh/yr) may contract directly with a producer.5Medium confidenceShow detail
SONABEL holds the transmission monopoly, which covers third-party access to transmission. An "eligible client" (at least 50 MW and 300,000 MWh a year) may contract directly with a producer.
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.
