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The Government of Sierra Leone has officially backed a landmark renewable energy project on Sherbro Island that will deliver the country’s first wind farm, paired with solar panels and battery storage, to provide electricity to more than 1,500 homes. The project is being developed by Akuna Group and UK-based Octopus Energy and is scheduled for completion in March 2026.
The collaboration began with a Memorandum of Understanding between Akuna Group, co-founded by Idris Elba, and Octopus Energy. Octopus Energy is deploying the company’s global experience managing over 350 renewable energy farms to deliver its first clean energy venture in Africa.
High-level follow-up support for the partnership has come from Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister David Sengeh and Octopus Energy CEO, Zoisa North-Bond during engagements at Global Citizen Now in the United States, the UN General Assembly in New York, and the Sierra Leone Investment Forum.
With government backing and regulatory approvals in place, the Sherbro Island project is positioned to become a flagship demonstration of Sierra Leone’s clean energy ambitions. Successful delivery by March 2026 would create a template for replicating similar hybrid renewable projects nationwide, supporting energy security, economic growth, and the country’s transition away from fossil fuels.
Less than 10 percent of Sierra Leone’s rural population have access to electricity. To solve this, the Sierra Leone government launched the the Rural Renewable Energy Project (RREP) with the aim of boosting rural electricity using solar-powered mini-rids.
The partnership with Octopus Energy will be a game-changer for locals in not only the Sherbro Island but the entire Bonthe District in Southwest Sierra Leone.
