Despite abundant sunshine, improving access to renewable energy financing and falling solar technology costs, many solar energy projects across West Africa continue to struggle long after installation.

A new study argues that the problem is not the technology itself but weaknesses in project planning, financing and long-term management.

The peer-reviewed research, Strategic Project Management Approaches for Successful Solar Energy Deployments in Emerging Markets: Lessons from West Africa, was co-authored by Dr. Efosa Brown Amayo, Olumide Akindele Owulade and Lawani Raymond Isi.

Drawing on practical experience from solar energy projects, including a one-megawatt deployment in the region, the study proposes a framework for improving the sustainability and performance of renewable energy investments.

According to the researchers, West Africa possesses many of the conditions needed for rapid solar expansion, including high solar irradiation, increasingly affordable photovoltaic technology and growing investment from development finance institutions and private investors. Yet many projects experience delays, underperform after commissioning or cease operations within a few years.

Dr. Amayo believes the root causes lie beyond the solar panels themselves.
“The panels are the easy part,” he said. “Whether a solar project pays for itself comes down to how disciplined you are about procurement, financing and maintenance long before the first module arrives.”

The study argues that many projects fail because financing models are poorly aligned with local economic realities, procurement processes do not adequately address supply chain risks, and maintenance planning is often overlooked until after construction has been completed.

Rather than treating procurement, financing, operations and maintenance as separate phases, the researchers recommend integrating them into a single project management framework from the earliest planning stages.

The paper notes that decisions made during project design can have significant long-term consequences. Financing plans that ignore future maintenance costs often leave operators unable to sustain installations, while procurement strategies that fail to secure spare parts and technical support can shorten the lifespan of otherwise reliable systems.

The study also highlights transparency and accountability as essential to improving investor confidence in Africa’s renewable energy sector. It recommends clear performance metrics, regular reporting and stronger governance mechanisms to ensure projects continue delivering value long after commissioning.

According to the authors, strengthening project management practices is just as important as expanding access to financing or improving technology if West Africa is to realise the full potential of solar energy.

They conclude that while the region’s abundant solar resources remain one of its greatest advantages, achieving lasting impact will depend on disciplined planning, sound governance and effective lifecycle management that extends well beyond installation.