By Kemo Cham
Hollywood actor Idris Elba’s dream of creating an echo-city in Sierra Leone is drawing closer to reality with the announcement of a major milestone in the project.
One of the partners in the initiative that is based in the country’s southern Bonthe District, Octopus Energy, announced last week that it is set to commence construction of its renewable energy component of the project, after submitting the plan to the Sierra Leone government. The plan entails the construction of a winfarm, the largest in the country.
The company made the announcement about this landmark development at the United Nations Climate Conference (COP29) ongoing in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The UN Conference of the Parties on Climate Change brings together governments, businesses and other stakeholders to negotiate global climate strategies and policies annually.
Sherbro Island city, designed to be an eco-friendly “smart city”, is the idea of Idriss and Siaka Stevens, the grandson of a former Sierra Leonean president of the same name. They are operating under the Sherbro Alliance Partners.
“I’m incredibly proud of the partnership and progress we’ve made on the Sherbro Island wind farm project with Octopus Energy since our announcement at COP28,” Elba was quoted ina joint statement from the partners, a copy of which was shared with ManoReporters.
At the heart of the project is the emphasis on clean energy to tackle climate change, as the island, one of the Sierra Leone’s most deprived district, is vulnerable to rising sea levels and intense rainfall.
In the statement, Octopus Energy said its aim is to start construction of the wind farm – which will consist up to five turbines, complete with solar panels and battery storage – next year. The facility is expected to generate clean power for around 2,000 homes on the island when completed.
The wind farm will be the first of its kind in Sierra Leone. And it is expected to expand energy access, generating clean power and job opportunities in the local economy and community.
For Octopus, it is the first of its kind on the African continent.
“Kicking off our first renewables project in Africa on Sherbro Island in Sierra Leone is a significant milestone,” Zoisa North-Bond, CEO of Octopus Energy Generation, said.
Octopus Energy is a global clean energy tech business, driving the affordable, green energy system of the future. It says it delivers world-class customer service and cutting edge energy products to 7.8 million households globally, its operations spanning 18 countries.
The company drives its renewable energy agenda through its Octopus Energy Generation arm.
It is described as one of Europe’s largest specialist renewables investors, managing 3.7 GW of green energy projects like wind and solar farms in over 15 countries, worth US$9bn. According to the company, these generate enough green power for 2.4 million homes every year in Europe – the equivalent of taking over 1 million petrol cars off the road.
“The insights we’ll gain will provide a blueprint to scale even more wind and solar farms in the future. Partnering with Idris and his team, we’re committed to being part of Sierra Leone’s journey as a renewables leader – and this is just the beginning,” said North-Bond.
The windfarm will be located close to the main land Bonthe town, which serves as the district’s administrative headquarters and the hub of its energy consumption. The company said it is in talks on land lease agreement.
This energy project represents a major boost to the Sierra Leone government’s ambitious target of making 85% of its electricity renewable by 2030.
Presently, only about 5% of the rural part of the country has access to electricity.
Bonthe itself, whose local economy largely relies on fishing, is out of the national grid.
The Sherbro Island energy project is expected to change that situation, with schools and medical facilities, among others, billed to benefit from it.
There are also plans for the partners involved in the project to create new green jobs, and team up with local universities to train young people in renewables and offer employment opportunities to maintain the wind farm.
Octopus said the Sherbro Island windfarm project will provide crucial data on local wind patterns and energy usage, thereby helping unlock further renewable investments across Sierra Leone in the future. It also said the project will be the first of many, as they look to scale renewables in the country.
“We’re building not just a wind farm, but a foundation for sustainable growth and energy independence in Sierra Leone. With the turbines scheduled for installation next year, it’ll stand as a powerful testament to our commitment to a cleaner, greener future for Sierra Leone and beyond,” said Elba.
