Senegal
SENSenegal has cleaned up its grid faster than most people realise.
Low-carbon electricity went from 9% to 20% in 10 years.
What this grid depends on
Three measures that say more about a country than how much power it makes. Open “what this means” on any of them if the term is new.
Cleaner than 4 in 10 grids worldwide.
What this means
How much planet-warming gas is released to make one unit of electricity. Two countries can generate exactly the same amount and one of them be ten times dirtier doing it. Lower is better.
Senegal buys in more electricity than it sends out.
What this means
The share of the electricity used here that was generated abroad and carried in over high-voltage lines. The higher it climbs, the more this country relies on a neighbour to keep its lights on.
Senegal’s neighbours
MaliMali has about as many people as Taiwan, and 51 times less electricity to share between them.
GuineaGuinea has taken the carbon out of its electricity fast.
MauritaniaMauritania has about as many people as Norway, and 71 times less electricity to share between them.
GambiaThe Gambia is second in the world for oil.
Sierra LeoneSierra Leone has about as many people as Israel, and 355 times less electricity to share between them.
Figures are for 2024, the most recent year reported for Senegal. Generation shares are a percentage of electricity generated, not of energy used. How this is calculated.