AGRIPOWHER aims to strengthen the resilience of Benin’s women farmers through an off-grid agrivoltaic system adapted to the rural context. Deployed in Savalou, the model is designed to be replicable in other areas of Benin and West Africa.
Benin
Agripowher: improving the resilience of women farmers in Benin through renewable energies
Electriciens sans frontières, an international solidarity NGO founded in 1986, fights against inequalities in access to electricity and water around the world.
An initiative of Electriciens sans frontières
Overview of the project
AGRIPOWHER aims to increase the resilience of women farmers through access to energy-agriculture systems, while demonstrating the technical and economic viability of an off-grid agrivoltaic system specially designed for Benin.
Ongoing research
Projet en lancement - 01/01/2025 31/12/2026
R1: A national inventory of the potential of agri-volta and its impacts is carried out with local stakeholders.
R2: The agricultural CSOs have technical skills and a pilot site to train their members in the productive uses of renewable energy.
R3: The women farmers supported have mastered agricultural energy solutions to develop their activities.
The project has shown that agrivoltaics reduces conflicts between resources: the shade from the panels reduces the need for water and the electricity produced feeds irrigation, encouraging year-round cultivation. This system optimises land use, enhances food and energy security, and supports income-generating activities.
Avec le soutien de plusieurs bailleurs de fonds (SOCOMEC, Total Energies, Région Hauts de France).
About the
organisation
organisation
Electriciens sans frontières is an NGO set up in 1986 to combat inequalities in access to electricity and water. With 1,200 volunteers and local partnerships, it develops renewable energy projects to improve access to health, education and water, and to support economic development. The NGO also provides post-emergency assistance in crisis zones.
Other partners / supporters
Le projet est mené en partenariat avec le centre Songhaï de Savalou, l’association des femmes transformatrices de tubercules et racines de Kakpassa, ainsi que plusieurs experts français. Aquilon By Meogroup réalisera une étude de marché et une analyse de faisabilité pour identifier les cultures locales les plus rentables et compatibles avec un système agrivoltaïque. Le centre Songhaï apportera son expertise sur les cultures traditionnelles.
Formaeltech interviendra sur la partie formation technique. BE SOLARELTECH, en collaboration avec Electriciens sans frontières, proposera une solution énergétique adaptée aux besoins locaux, incluant la transformation agricole, la réfrigération et l’irrigation. Un audit sera mené pour améliorer l’efficacité des équipements existants, afin de réduire l’usage des groupes électrogènes grâce à une installation photovoltaïque.