The Republic of the Congo, sometimes called Congo-Brazzaville to distinguish it from its much larger neighbour, straddles the equator. It has a short Atlantic coast, a huge expanse of rainforest and the great Congo River along its eastern border. Most of its people live in two cities, the capital on the river and the port on the coast, with a corridor between them. That shape, together with oil and gas and strong rivers, defines the context for wind and solar. This note covers the general factors; check current official sources for figures and plans. For the larger neighbour, see our note on DR Congo.
The equatorial climate
Equatorial regions get plenty of sunlight over the year, but also a lot of cloud and rain. Solar works, though output is lower and more variable than in deserts or the Sahel, and humidity and heavy rain call for robust equipment. Large-scale winds near the equator tend to be light, so wind is generally a minor option, though sea breezes along the coast are worth measuring.
Rivers, oil and gas
Strong rivers make hydropower a natural fit, and the country also produces oil and has natural gas, some of which has been used to generate electricity near the coast. In a system with hydro and gas, the question for solar is usually where it adds value: reducing reliance on one big source, supplying daytime demand, or reaching places the main lines do not.
A corridor grid
Where most demand sits in a couple of cities linked by one main line, the rest of the country can be very poorly served. Grid extension through forest is costly and slow. That makes off-grid solutions important:
- solar for riverside and forest communities reached mainly by water or rough roads;
- mini-grids for district towns;
- solar-hybrid systems replacing some diesel at remote sites.
Forests and land use
Clearing rainforest for a solar farm would undermine one of the main environmental reasons for building it. Rooftops, already-cleared land and sites near towns are generally better choices, and careful environmental assessment is part of any responsible project.
Financing questions
Investors generally look at the finances of the utility that will buy power, public debt and how oil prices affect the economy. As a member of a shared regional currency area, the country faces different currency risks from neighbours with their own currencies. Our Projects Explained page sets out the general steps.
Read on
Compare with Gabon and Cameroon in our Country Notes, or read Solar Power Basics.