Cape Verde is an archipelago in the Atlantic off the coast of West Africa. Its islands are dry, rugged and exposed to the ocean winds, and they have no fossil fuels of their own. Those facts make it a textbook example of how small island states think about renewable energy: the wind and sun are plentiful, imported fuel is expensive, but every island has to keep its own lights on. This note explains the general picture. For current figures and plans, check official sources such as the government's energy department and the island utilities.
Trade winds and sunshine
The islands lie in the path of the north-east trade winds, which blow with notable regularity for much of the year. Steady wind matters as much as strong wind, because turbines earn their keep through consistent hours of output. Hills and headlands can speed the wind up further. The dry climate also gives good sunshine, so solar and wind can share the load, with wind often continuing after sunset.
The cost of imported fuel
Islands without their own oil or gas typically generate power by burning imported diesel or fuel oil. That ties electricity prices to world fuel markets and shipping costs. Every unit of wind or solar power can mean less fuel bought from abroad, which is a powerful argument for renewables quite apart from emissions.
Many small grids, not one
Each inhabited island generally has its own separate grid, and some are very small. That creates particular challenges:
- Balancing. On a small grid, a sudden drop in wind is felt immediately, so operators need fast back-up, such as batteries or responsive generators.
- Scale. Large turbines may be too big for the smallest islands, and delivering them by sea adds cost.
- Duplication. Each island needs its own reserve capacity and maintenance skills.
Our explainer on batteries and energy storage shows why storage is so valuable in this setting.
Water and power together
Fresh water is scarce on dry islands, and desalinating seawater uses a lot of electricity. Linking desalination to wind and solar, and storing water rather than electricity when the wind is strong, is one of the ideas often discussed for islands like these.
Weather and salt
Salt spray and strong winds are hard on equipment. Corrosion-resistant materials and regular maintenance matter more than on an inland site.
Financing questions
Small markets struggle to attract large investors, so island projects often rely on public or concessional finance, careful contract design and stable tariffs. Our Projects Explained page covers the general steps.
Read on
Compare Cape Verde with mainland Senegal and Mauritania, or island Madagascar, in our Country Notes, and read Wind Basics.