The solar thermal market study of Cabo Verde was elaborated in the frame of the program SOLtrain West Africa which is managed by ECREEE. The market study contains an overview of the still weak solar thermal energy market in Cabo Verde, including chapters on solar water heating, and also on solar thermal drying of agricultural products and solar cooling in Cabo Verde.

Except tiny and small gravitation systems, there are only very few documented pumped systems installed so far. The solar thermal potential is very high, especially for hotels, hospitals, schools and residential buildings including social buildings as “casa para todos”, as well as solar process heat in food and beverage industry.

As it is known from many other countries as e.g. Tunisia, Namibia, Austria, Germany, strong political incentives are necessary for broad dissemination. Using solar thermal for water heating instead of electricity increases the grid reserves, and reduces strongly the storage needs when Cabo Verde is approaching its politically approved goal of 100% RE share for electricity generation by 2020.

Find more information about the SOLtrain West African Program from ECREEE HERE