Octopus Energy’s generation arm has entered into a partnership with Idris Elba and Siaka Stevens’ development company to build Sierra Leone’s first wind farm.
Announced at COP28, the collaboration between Octopus Energy and Sherbro Alliance Partners (SAP) will help accelerate the country’s renewables development.
It will enable the collection of vital data to foster greater investment into green energy on Sherbro Island, across Sierra Leone and beyond.
The deal will see Octopus build the renewables project for the country in 2024, with the potential to expand the partnership in the future.
Up to five wind turbines and solar panels with batteries will generate clean electricity for local communities.
The partners are exploring options for the location of the site on Sherbro Island, which will create green job opportunities and training for local people.
SAP is an infrastructure development company co-founded by award-winning actor Idris Elba and Siaka Stevens, the grandson of the former President of Sierra Leone.
Sherbro Island is a designated semi-autonomous Special Economic Zone, which allows private sector entities and investors to lead in the island’s development activities.
SAP is on a mission to transform Sherbro Island into a vibrant West African economic hub and dynamic eco-city, where global citizens can live, learn, research, work and play.
The vision is to replicate the transformative economic shifts seen in places like Singapore and Dubai, with a focus on efficient governance, robust infrastructure including high speed connectivity, alongside healthcare, education, arts, film, entertainment, business, and talent development.
The agreement will also see SAP and Octopus open offices in Sierra Leone.
Elba said: “We look at the pristine beaches of Sherbro Island, with the goal of creating a culturally diverse international city that blends African tradition, dynamism, and pride with state-of-the-art infrastructure and services, where development sits in harmony with sustainability.
“We’re pleased to partner with Octopus Energy who share a profound commitment to sustainability and energy which will be a backbone to development on Sherbro.”
Stevens said: “Over the last few years, our mission has been to transform Sherbro and ignite a new way of building African cities, Africa needs new cities.
“We are focusing on making a significant impact across the region and beyond with partners in the UK, Europe, Americas, Asia, and the Middle East.
“Our collaboration with Octopus is the first of many partnerships which will allow us to achieve this world class vision.”