Darkness in the sun?: Imagining a solar energy future in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone is faced with complex energy challenges, including very low rates of access to electricity. Nevertheless, ambitious goals have been set for the country through the Energy Transition and Green Growth Plan. Opportunities for solar energy deployment feature prominently in these goals, although they are clearly imagined in very different ways by the various energy sector actors. Some see large-scale hydropower as the future backbone of the electricity system, with opportunities for deploying solar photovoltaic energy in an auxiliary role. Others emphasise the potential of solar mini-grids. Still others see the greatest potential in household-scale solar systems to meet basic energy needs. In this article, we use the concept of sociotechnical imaginaries to examine these competing narratives. We argue that all of these technologies have their place in the future energy landscape of the country, but the vastly different geographical and economic realities and needs of diverse communities need to be duly considered when shaping the future energy landscape.