Summary
In Mile 4 New Council area in Bamenda, North West region of Cameroon, residents have increasingly turned to solar energy to cope with prolonged and unpredictable electricity disruptions.
Full Text
Reduced generation at major hydroelectric stations and thermal plants contributed to Cameroon’s diminished power supply Originally published on Global Voices Solar panels. Image from PHere . Free to use. CC0 1.0 In Mile four of the New Council area in Bamenda, of the North West region of Cameroon, residents have increasingly turned to solar energy to cope with prolonged and unpredictable electricity disruptions as the country’s electricity crisis intensified. For the past two years, households in this part of town say they have experienced inconsistent or completely absent power from the national grid managed by Eneo Cameroon , the company responsible for the production, distribution, and sale of electrical energy in Cameroon. Officials have attributed widespread power shortages to technical and hydrological factors. In January 2025, the Ministry of Water Resources and Energy explained that reduced generation at major hydroelectric stations, including Songloulou, Edea, and Memve’ele, and the shutdown of certain thermal plants contributed to diminished power supply, prompting rationing and frequent outages across the interconnected grid. Frustrated by repeated delays in restoring stable electricity, inhabitants of the New Council area contributed personal funds to purchase a community transformer in mid-January 2026. The investment was intended to improve access during extended outages. Despite this, the power supply remains intermittent, prompting many residents to adopt decentralized solar systems in their homes as an alternative. Godwin Benyella, a resident of Mile 4 Nkwen, said: I’ve been using solar energy to power up my household since 2020. It helps us whenever there are frequent power outages. The solar has definitely attracted neighbors’ [attention] and even pushed them to get their own. Benyella’s solar setup, six panels and two batteries, cost about CFA francs 1.5 million (USD 2,705). His technician charged CFA 75,000 for installation. He reported that the system powers his television, refrigerator (barely), and blender, but noted that heavy appliances like irons and washing machines cannot be run without more equipment. Across Bamenda’s Main Market, solar panels and batteries have become widely available, reflecting rising demand. Martin, a vendor who imports panels and batteries, described changing market conditions: At first 100 Watts cost 120k [CFA francs]. But now with 20k [CFA francs] you can have a 100 watt panel, we who have our small shops in town no longer make profit because most people travel to Douala and buy directly from the manufacturers. He noted that while solar has become a “good investment,” increased competition from larger suppliers has driven prices down and squeezed small-scale retailers. A tour around the council area shows that most houses have one, two, or even six solar panels on their roofs, purchased from the local market and installed by technicians throughout the neighborhood. Technicians in the city who install these panels for households report intensified solar adoption as grid reliability declines. Nelson, an electrician, explained the basic functioning of residential systems: Solar panels capture sunlight and convert it into direct current electricity. An inverter then kicks in to convert the DC power into alternating current, which is what your house uses. Any excess energy can be stored in batteries. It’s a clean, sustainable way to power your home. He added that the consistent, intense sunlight in Bamenda makes solar power particularly suitable and that many residents are installing systems to supplement or replace unreliable grid service. Solar Bright Future Company CTO engineer Kigha Paul Tabo, an expert who has been in the solar domain for years, described broader trends in energy needs. He said awareness campaigns and falling prices have made solar more accessible, especially in Bamenda’s rural areas and across the northwest region. Over the last five to seven years, he noted, many household clients have adopted solar as the national grid’s reach declined in some areas due to infrastructure damage and maintenance challenges. He also highlighted efforts to develop mini solar generators capable of powering single rooms, Tabo said: Many families are embracing the shift. Solar is better and cheaper than generators, it may be expensive to install but far cheaper to maintain daily than buying fuel for a generator. He acknowledged access constraints, including the high upfront cost of installations, a lack of licensed vendors, and skill gaps among informal installers, and encouraged households to buy products with guaranteed warranties to better enjoy the benefits of solar panel installations. Solar in Mile 4 does not fully replace grid electricity. Basic domestic solar systems provide light, refrigeration, and device charging, but are limited in capacity without larger battery banks and panels. However, the expanding adoption of solar reflects practical responses to recurring grid failures and has contributed to decentralized energy access for households in the community. In student neighborhoods such as Bambili University campuses, students say frequent power outages affect their studies, as it’s challenging for them to study in the dark. Munaseh Courage, a fourth-year student at the University of Bamenda, told Global Voices: You cannot even make plans to study because you are not sure when there will be light, having phones go off also makes one miss important assessments announced on the class forum. In addition to students, the disruptionsin recent years have affected businesses and non-profits that operate in the town. The Luc Menora Rehabilitation Foundation (LMF), located in Bamenda, Cameroon, which takes care of disabled children, has suffered from this issue. “Yet today, this mission is under serious threat. The foundation is facing an electricity crisis that is dimming the light of opportunity for these children,” they wrote in a release after an evaluation meeting. They said they are looking to switch to a solar grid so they can better support the young people they work with. At the national level, government officials acknowledge persistent challenges in electricity supply across multiple regions, including those served by the Southern Interconnected Grid , which covers the northwest and southwest regions. The Minister of Water Resources and Energy has stated that the government has taken steps to strengthen the electricity sector, including the state’s acquisition of the majority stake in ENEO, with the stated goal of improving distribution network reliability and meeting growing demand. The minister has also called for improved billing and reduced fraud to support system sustainability. The expansion of solar use in Mile 4 reflects one locally driven adaptation to systemic electricity instability, with households investing in decentralized, renewable energy systems that enable basic electrical access despite persistent grid disruptions. Written by Cynthia Ebot Takang
Bamenda residents expand private solar use as Cameroon power cuts persist
Short summary: Households in Bamenda’s Mile 4 neighborhood are increasingly installing solar systems after prolonged and unpredictable outages from Cameroon’s national grid.
Long summary: Residents in Bamenda’s New Council area, especially Mile 4 Nkwen, are turning to private solar systems as prolonged electricity outages continue to disrupt daily life. Cameroon’s government has linked the shortages to reduced output at key hydroelectric plants and shutdowns at some thermal facilities, leading to rationing across the grid. Even after residents pooled funds to buy a community transformer in January 2026, supply remained unreliable. Falling solar equipment prices, strong local sunlight, and the need for dependable lighting, refrigeration, and device charging have accelerated adoption, though high upfront costs and limited system capacity remain obstacles.
In Bamenda’s Mile 4 area, many households are relying more on private solar power as repeated outages from the national grid continue.
Residents say electricity from Eneo Cameroon has been inconsistent or entirely absent for about two years. Authorities have blamed the crisis on technical and hydrological problems, including reduced generation at major hydroelectric stations such as Songloulou, Edea, and Memve’ele, as well as shutdowns at some thermal plants.
In January 2026, frustrated residents contributed money to buy a community transformer in hopes of improving supply. But power remained intermittent, pushing more families to install decentralized solar systems at home.
Local users say basic systems can provide lighting, charge phones, and run some appliances such as televisions and small refrigerators, though heavier equipment requires larger and more expensive setups. One resident said his six-panel, two-battery system cost about CFA 1.5 million, plus CFA 75,000 for installation.
Solar sellers and technicians in Bamenda report rising demand, helped by falling panel prices and the area’s strong sunlight. Still, experts say adoption is limited by upfront costs, inconsistent product quality, and shortages of licensed vendors and skilled installers.
The power crisis has also affected students, businesses, and nonprofits. Some organizations are now exploring solar as a more reliable alternative to unstable grid electricity.
Tags: Cameroon, Bamenda, solar energy, electricity crisis, power outages, renewable energy, Eneo, North West Region
Hashtags: #Cameroon, #SolarEnergy, #Bamenda, #PowerOutages, #RenewableEnergy
In Bamenda, rooftop solar is becoming a survival tool during power cuts
Short summary: Frequent blackouts in Bamenda are driving households and institutions to install solar panels for lighting, charging, and basic daily needs.
Long summary: As Cameroon’s electricity shortages continue, residents in Bamenda are increasingly investing in rooftop solar to manage long and unpredictable outages. In neighborhoods like Mile 4, families say unreliable grid power has disrupted homes, studies, businesses, and care services. Lower panel prices and strong sunlight have made solar more attractive, but upfront costs still limit how much power most households can secure.
Bamenda residents are increasingly turning to solar as frequent power cuts continue to disrupt everyday life.
In Mile 4 and nearby parts of the New Council area, households say grid electricity has been unreliable for about two years. Officials have linked the shortages to reduced production at major hydroelectric stations and shutdowns at some thermal plants.
Even after residents pooled money to buy a community transformer in January 2026, supply remained unstable. That has pushed more families to install private solar systems to keep lights on, charge phones, and run basic appliances.
Local sellers say solar panels are now easier to find and cheaper than before, while technicians say Bamenda’s strong sunlight makes the technology a practical option. But most home systems still cannot power heavy appliances without costly upgrades.
The blackouts are also affecting students, businesses, and nonprofits, prompting some institutions to consider switching to solar as well.
For many in Bamenda, solar is no longer just an environmental choice. It is becoming a necessary backup in an ongoing electricity crisis.
Tags: Bamenda, Cameroon, solar, blackouts, energy crisis, students, households, infrastructure
Hashtags: #Bamenda, #Cameroon, #Solar, #PowerCuts, #EnergyCrisis
Cameroonians in Bamenda turn to solar as long-running electricity crisis deepens
Short summary: With grid power still unreliable in Bamenda, households, students, and institutions are investing in rooftop solar to keep lights on and essential devices running.
Long summary: Prolonged electricity shortages in Cameroon are pushing more residents of Bamenda to adopt decentralized solar power. In Mile 4 and the wider New Council area, households have endured unstable supply from the national grid for roughly two years, forcing residents to seek alternatives. Government officials have tied the shortages to reduced generation at major hydroelectric plants and shutdowns at thermal stations, while local frustrations have grown despite community efforts such as the purchase of a transformer in January 2026. Lower solar equipment prices, favorable sunlight conditions, and the need for reliable energy for homes, studies, businesses, and social services are accelerating the shift, even as upfront costs and technical limitations remain significant barriers.
Residents of Bamenda in Cameroon’s North West region are increasingly turning to solar power as prolonged electricity disruptions continue to undermine daily life.
In the Mile 4 section of the New Council area, many households say they have lived with unpredictable or missing grid electricity for the past two years. The outages have become severe enough that residents contributed personal funds in mid-January 2026 to purchase a community transformer, hoping to improve access during long blackouts. Even that measure has not restored reliable supply.
National authorities have attributed the shortages to a mix of technical and hydrological factors. In January 2025, the Ministry of Water Resources and Energy said reduced generation at major hydroelectric stations, including Songloulou, Edea, and Memve’ele, along with the shutdown of some thermal plants, had reduced available power and triggered rationing across the interconnected grid.
As confidence in the grid weakens, private solar systems are becoming more common on rooftops across Bamenda. Residents and technicians say many homes now have one or more panels installed to provide light, charge phones, and support basic household appliances.
One resident, Godwin Benyella of Mile 4 Nkwen, said he has used solar since 2020 to manage frequent outages. His setup of six panels and two batteries cost around CFA 1.5 million, with installation priced at CFA 75,000. He said the system can power a television, blender, and a refrigerator with limited performance, but not heavier appliances such as irons or washing machines without additional equipment.
The growing market has also changed local business. Solar vendors in Bamenda say prices have dropped sharply over time, making panels more accessible to households while increasing competition for small retailers. Technicians report that stronger awareness of solar technology, combined with Bamenda’s intense sunlight, has encouraged more families to invest in systems that either supplement or partially replace grid electricity.
Experts say the trend has been building for years, especially in rural parts of the northwest where grid coverage has weakened in some places because of infrastructure damage and maintenance difficulties. Solar is increasingly viewed as a practical long-term option because, although installation costs can be high, operating expenses are lower than running fuel-powered generators.
Still, solar is not a complete substitute for the grid in many homes. Most residential systems remain limited in capacity and are mainly used for lighting, refrigeration, and device charging unless households can afford larger battery banks and more panels. Concerns also remain about access to quality equipment, warranties, licensed vendors, and skilled installers.
The electricity crisis has broader consequences beyond households. Students in neighborhoods around Bambili and the University of Bamenda say blackouts interrupt study schedules and make it difficult to stay connected for coursework and assessment updates. Businesses and nonprofit organizations have also been affected. The Luc Menora Rehabilitation Foundation, which supports disabled children in Bamenda, has said it is seeking to move toward solar power to maintain its services more reliably.
At the national level, officials say efforts are underway to improve the electricity sector, including the state’s acquisition of a majority stake in ENEO to strengthen distribution reliability and respond to rising demand. But in communities like Mile 4, residents are already building their own energy resilience through decentralized solar systems.
The spread of rooftop solar in Bamenda highlights how communities are adapting locally to a wider national power crisis, using renewable energy to secure at least basic access to electricity when the grid cannot be counted on.
Tags: Cameroon, Bamenda, North West Region, solar power, energy access, electricity shortages, decentralized energy, renewables
Hashtags: #Cameroon, #Bamenda, #SolarPower, #ElectricityCrisis, #EnergyAccess