In two office buildings in Monrovia, the Deutsche Gesellschaf fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) projects enjoy solar electricity without interruptions. While Energizing Development (EnDev) project has been using solar power since May 2015, GIZ health projects have started in April 2018.
As GIZ staff in this video explain, using solar energy has various advantages. It is not only friendly for the environment, saving CO2 emissions, it is also nice for the employees who don’t hear noise of a generator or smell the unhealthy smoke. Also, it can also save money on the long run.
On April 3, 2018, the GIZ health project has installed a solar system for their office located in Congo Town. The 20kwatt solar system with 24 batteries will provide energy to all equipment.
Children attending the first EnDev Solar Cinema
The drive to mitigate carbon emissions and deforestation in Liberia by using renewable energy has been a challenge over the last 10 years, as the postwar nation grapples with how to embrace the concept. On the one hand, there has been the limited expertise regarding design, build and maintenance. On the other hand, low budgets have scared many away from investing in natural energy sources that could pay for themselves in a relatively short amount of time – and reap cost savings for many more years to come.
The Liberia National Investment Commission together with the Ministry of Finance provides incentives for businesses to reduce costs for setting up or expanding businesses to attract investment in specific sectors, including the energy sector. Businesses from other eligible sectors could also get tax deductions for solar electrification or other renewable energy assets.