Country snapshot · West Africa
Cabo Verde
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 | 0.0 | Ember estimate |
| 2024 | 11.9 | Ember estimate |
| 2025 | 3.8 | Ember estimate |
| 2026E | 23.9 | Ember estimate, full year |
0.1% of Africa’s estimated 2026 solar additions (23.9 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 | 97.7% | 2024 |
| Urban | 98.6% | 2024 |
| National | 98.4% | 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.3,4N6
39.6% (2024 survey) · Sub-Saharan Africa 72.4% · World 47.5% (2025)
The rules for small-scale generationN2,N7
Export rules: Yes
- Regulator
- ARME
- Main utility
- Electra
Export rulesDecree-Law 1/2011 (amended 2014, 2018): micro-production regime with surplus sale. In force.5High confidenceShow detail
Decreto-Lei n.º 1/2011 (3 Jan 2011) — renewables incl. self-production; amended by DL 18/2014 and DL 54/2018 (15 Oct 2018). Microprodução regime with surplus sale. In force
How exports are creditedSurplus paid at an ARME-set avoided thermal cost (8.04 ECV/kWh from Apr 2021).5High confidenceShow detail
Microproducer surplus paid at ARME-set avoided thermal cost: 8.04 ECV/kWh from 1 Apr 2021 (Deliberação 08/CA/2021). 2016 thesis described original scheme as net-metering at consumption price
Size limits and licensingMicro-production up to 100 kVA (2016 source).5Medium confidenceShow detail
Microprodução up to 100 kVA connection power (per 2016 thesis, attribution DL 1/2011 vs DL 18/2014 unclear)
Mini-grid rulesNo dedicated regulation found.5Low confidenceShow detail
Simplified regime for decentralised rural electrification within DL 1/2011 framework (per thesis); no dedicated mini-grid regulation found
Market access beyond the utilityIndependent production by authorised entities.5Medium confidenceShow detail
Independent production by authorised entities (DL 1/2011 as amended by 54/2018); e.g. Cabeólica 20-yr PPA with Electra
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.
No 2024–2026 development verified in the sources reviewed.
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.
