Liberia container farming combined with photovoltaic panels

Overcoming these challenges requires strategic energy mix diversification through increased utilization of indigenous renewable resources such as solar and biomass energy. These resources hold immense potential, with Liberia boasting abundant solar irradiation and promising bioenergy in specific regions.

Only 3 % of Liberians had grid electricity access in 2019, among the lowest globally. Traditional biomass use poses indoor air pollution risks, especially for women and children. Outdated infrastructure, fuel dependence, and funding constraints hinder progress. Abundant renewables, international support, and off-grid options offer solutions.

The country will need to invest heavily in energy infrastructure to achieve universal access to electricity by 2030 . The primary energy sources in Liberia are traditional biomass fuels such as firewood and charcoal, which account for more than 80 % of the country's total energy consumption [5, 12, 13].

To overcome these challenges, Liberia has been exploring alternative solutions to reduce its dependency on imported fuels for thermal power generation. One strategy is to diversify the energy mix by increasing the share of domestic renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, for electricity generation.

The primary challenge to energy access in Liberia is the limited and underdeveloped energy infrastructure. The lack of adequate power generation, transmission, and distribution systems contributes to this low access rate. The electrification rate is significantly lower in rural areas, where most of the population resides .

The primary energy sources in Liberia are traditional biomass fuels such as firewood and charcoal, which account for more than 80 % of the country's total energy consumption [5, 12, 13]. Petroleum products, including gasoline and diesel, account for about 10 % of energy consumption, while hydroelectric power accounts for just over 6 % .