Country snapshot · West Africa

Sierra Leone

Export rules: None foundData as of 10 October 2026
156.1MW
Solar added in 2026 (Ember estimate, all segments)1N2,N3
+119%
Change on 20251
2025: 71.4 MW (Ember estimate)
39.2%
Access to electricity, 20242N4
5.25million
People without electricity, 2024 (DERCA calculation)2N4

Solar added each year

Ember estimates of all solar (utility-scale, distributed and off-grid), MW. 2026 is Ember’s full-year estimate.

Sierra Leone: solar added per year, 2023–2026, MW (Ember estimates)2023: 36.8 MW; 2024: 34.1 MW; 2025: 71.4 MW; 2026 estimate: 156.1 MW36.8202334.1202471.42025156.12026E
Sierra Leone: solar added per year, 2023–2026, MW (Ember estimates)2023: 36.8 MW; 2024: 34.1 MW; 2025: 71.4 MW; 2026 estimate: 156.1 MW36.8202334.1202471.42025156.12026E
View as tableHide table
Solar added per year, MW
YearMWBasis
202336.8Ember estimate
202434.1Ember estimate
202571.4Ember estimate
2026E156.1Ember estimate, full year

0.9% of Africa’s estimated 2026 solar additions (156.1 of 17,449.4 MW).1

Who has electricity

Share of people with access to electricity, 2024: rural and urban.

Sierra Leone: access to electricity, rural vs urban, 2024Rural 24.9%, urban 56.4%, national 39.2%.National 39.2%Rural 24.9%Urban 56.4%0%25%50%75%100%
Sierra Leone: access to electricity, rural vs urban, 2024Rural 24.9%, urban 56.4%, national 39.2%.National 39.2%Rural 24.9%Urban 56.4%0%50%100%
View as tableHide table
Access to electricity, 2024
AreaAccessYear
Rural24.9%2024
Urban56.4%2024
National39.2%2024
Rural 24.9%Urban 56.4%Without electricity 5.25m (DERCA calculation)

World Bank WDI, 2024.2

How reliable is the grid for business?

Firms experiencing electrical outages (2023 survey), compared with Sub-Saharan Africa and the world.3,4N5

Sierra Leone: share of firms experiencing electrical outagesSierra Leone 66.2% (2023 survey); Sub-Saharan Africa 72.4%; World 47.5% (2025).Sierra Leone (2023)66.2%Sub-Saharan Africa72.4%World47.5%
Sierra Leone: share of firms experiencing electrical outagesSierra Leone 66.2% (2023 survey); Sub-Saharan Africa 72.4%; World 47.5% (2025).Sierra Leone(2023)66.2%Sub-SaharanAfrica72.4%World47.5%

66.2% (2023 survey) · Sub-Saharan Africa 72.4% · World 47.5% (2025)

The rules for small-scale generationN6

Export rules: None found

Regulator
EWRC
Main utility
EDSA (distribution); EGTC (generation, transmission)
CrossBoundary Energy regulatory stage5N1,N7
Stage 1
Stage 0
Centralised controlStage 1
Cautious co-existenceStage 2
Directed benefitsStage 3
Early market management
Export rulesNone found. Net metering proposed by stakeholders only.6Medium confidenceShow detail

None found — net metering proposed by stakeholders only

Sources: 6
How exports are creditedNone foundShow detail

None found

Size limits and licensingCaptive generation permit rules (2019); no permit below 10 kVA.6Medium confidenceShow detail

Captive Power Generation Permit Rules 2019; no permit below 10 kVA

Sources: 6
Mini-grid rulesSolar mini-grid regulations (2019); a 2024 revision is reported but its adoption is unconfirmed.6Medium confidenceShow detail

Solar mini-grid regulations 2019; revised 2024 (ITSF); compact lists 2019 MG regulation "update" for adoption

Sources: 6
Market access beyond the utilityDraft Electricity Act 2024 would unbundle EDSA.6Medium confidenceShow detail

Draft Electricity Act 2024 to unbundle EDSA; IPPs may sell to grid or large private clients where EDSA absent

Sources: 6
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.

  1. 2026

    Ember: potential generation from solar added in 2026 equals about 97% of reported 2024 generation.7

  2. 2024

    EDSA losses above 50%.6

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.

Suggest a correction for Sierra LeoneContribute data

Get the full report

Africa’s Invisible Grid (PDF, 30 pages). Enter your details and we’ll email you a link to the report.