- New research shows that Cameroon has shifted its focus on renewable energy over the past decade, prioritising solar and off-grid systems over hydropower.
- The country increased its solar capacity from 0 to 90 MW between 2015 and 2024, improving rural electrification and clean energy access.
New international research has shown that Cameroon has significantly reoriented its renewable energy policy over the past decade, prioritising solar, off-grid, and mini-grid solutions as hydropower expansion slows.
The study, published in Energy Strategy Reviews, analysed Cameroon’s renewable energy progress between 2015 and 2024. It found that while hydropower remains the dominant renewable source, capacity growth has plateaued, rising from 732 megawatts (MW) in 2015 to 814 MW in 2024.
By contrast, grid-connected solar capacity surged from zero in 2015 to 63 MW in 2024, a compound annual growth rate exceeding 90%. Researchers attributed this increase to the deregulation of solar project licensing and the rising adoption of solar-powered initiatives, particularly after 2017.
Off-grid systems, comprising mainly stand-alone solar installations and hybrid solar–diesel mini-grids, also expanded sharply, from 0.2 MW in 2015 to 27.1 MW in 2024. The report said the shift reflects a broader regional trend across Sub-Saharan Africa, where decentralised solutions are helping bridge electricity access gaps.
According to the researchers, private and donor-funded rural electrification programmes have driven much of this growth, boosting electricity access in remote communities and health facilities. Between 2015 and 2024, rural electricity access in Cameroon rose from 17% to 27%, while electrified health services increased from 25% to 62%.
Although fewer than 40% of off-grid systems operate at full capacity due to maintenance and financing challenges, the Ministry of Water Resources and Energy reported in 2023 that around 1.2 million people have gained improved electricity access through off-grid projects launched since 2017.
The study noted that decentralised systems have brought new economic opportunities to underserved villages, from lighting and phone charging to food preservation and tailoring. However, it warned that the absence of a unified national framework hinders scalability.
The researchers urged policymakers to prioritise decentralised models such as mobile-money-based finance schemes, pay-as-you-go solar systems, and community microgrids.