Tetra Tech is continuing our partnership with the U.S. government’s Power Africa initiative to increase access to cleaner and more reliable energy in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Through the Power Africa Empower West Africa Activity, Tetra Tech is using our Leading with Science® approach to modernize utilities, attract investment, and connect millions of homes and businesses to electricity. Empower West Africa is a five-year project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) that aims to increase access to electricity and boost sustainable economic growth in 18 West and Central African countries.
From bases in Ghana, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire, and with expert advisors across the region, Tetra Tech is supporting partner governments to design and implement national electrification programs, modernize transmission and distribution utilities, deploy clean energy technologies, and catalyze energy sector investments. We are introducing digital tools like smart power meters and AI-based data analytics; e-mobility solutions, such as electric vehicles and boats; and capacity-building programs to upskill local workers for renewable energy careers.
Benefits
- Establish 6 million new on-grid and off-grid electricity connections
- Bring 2,500 megawatts of new generation capacity to financial close
- Facilitate financial close of 1,500 kilometers of new power lines
- Support sales of 40,000 PUE off-grid devices
- Avoid 14.4 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions
Empower West Africa Objectives
Increase electricity connections for homes and businesses
Tetra Tech is providing technical and policy expertise to expand mini-grids and standalone energy systems, and to create income-generating activities through productive-use of energy (PUE) appliances.
Enhance private sector investment and innovation
Our experts are assisting governments and other counterparts to develop and implement national energy policies, identify investment opportunities for U.S. and African clean energy companies, and advance cross-border power trade.
Optimize utility performance to increase energy access
Boots-on-the-ground advisors are working to reduce losses and boost revenue at energy utilities and to reduce electricity connection costs for households.
Accelerate the clean energy transition
Tetra Tech is supporting country-led energy planning that includes building a pipeline of viable projects that help facilitate a just energy transition.
The Empower West Africa Activity continues Tetra Tech’s longstanding engagement with Power Africa. This includes the implementation of Power Africa’s first phase, key contributions to off-grid electrification programs across the continent, and utility performance improvement in East and Central Africa, as well as strategic communications advisory to the Power Africa Coordinator’s Office.
At a glance
Contract value
$73M
Client
U.S. Agency for International Development
Implementation period
2024–2029
Services
Energy, energy access, energy efficiency, utility management consulting, renewable energy
