Which Cameroonian region has the best solar?

Maroua (5.8 PSH) and Garoua (5.6 PSH) in far northern Cameroon receive Sahelian-level solar radiation — by far the sunniest regions. Bamenda (4.8 PSH) and Bafoussam (4.7 PSH) in the western highlands follow. Douala (4.3 PSH) is the cloudiest due to equatorial rainforest climate. The north-south PSH difference within Cameroon is one of the largest of any single country in Africa.

🇨🇲 Solar Calculator Cameroon

Enter your monthly ENEO bill and region — get solar system size, XAF cost, diesel genset replacement savings, northern Sahel vs southern rainforest PSH contrast, and payback period for Cameroonian homes and businesses.

Your electricity details

Monthly electricity bill?

XAF (FCFA)

Region?

System size?

Genset replacement?

Solar system results — Cameroon

5 kWp system — 1314 kWh/kWp/yr (4.5 PSH)

Monthly kWh usage333 kWh/mo

Annual solar production6 570 kWh/yr

Self-consumption savings197 100 XAF/yr

Total annual benefit197 100 XAF/yr

ENEO rate used75 XAF/kWh (XAF 50–99 tiered)

Net meteringNone — self-consumption only

System cost range3 500 000 – 5 000 000 XAF

Total installed cost (midpoint)4 250 000 XAF

Payback period21.6 years

25-year net savings677 500 XAF

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How to Use This Calculator

Enter your monthly bill and region

Enter your average monthly ENEO (Energie du Cameroun) electricity bill in Central African CFA Francs (XAF). ENEO's tiered tariff ranges from XAF 50/kWh for the lowest consumption bracket to XAF 99/kWh for higher consumption (~$0.08–0.16 USD). Select your region — the contrast between northern and southern Cameroon is dramatic: Maroua (5.8 PSH) in the far north receives Sahelian-level solar radiation, while Douala (4.3 PSH) on the equatorial Atlantic coast is significantly cloudier due to the rainforest climate.

Northern vs. southern Cameroon solar

Cameroon's solar opportunity varies enormously by geography. Northern Cameroon — Garoua (5.6 PSH), Maroua (5.8 PSH) — approaches Saharan solar radiation levels and is often off-grid, making solar with battery storage the primary electrification solution. Southern equatorial Cameroon — Douala (4.3 PSH), Kribi (4.4 PSH), Yaoundé (4.5 PSH) — has more cloud cover but denser population and better grid access. The two zones require completely different solar strategies.

Genset replacement opportunity

ENEO's grid reliability is poor across much of Cameroon, driving widespread use of diesel generators at XAF 280+ per kWh true cost. Hotels, commercial buildings, and industrial facilities running diesel backup can dramatically improve their solar payback by accounting for genset elimination. Solar + battery replacing a diesel genset achieves payback of 3–5 years in many Cameroonian commercial scenarios.

The Formula

Monthly kWh = Monthly Bill ÷ XAF 75/kWh (blended ENEO rate) Annual production = kWp × PSH × 365 × 0.80 efficiency Self-consumption = Annual kWh × 40% (grid-tied without battery) Self-consumption savings = Self-consumed kWh × XAF 75/kWh Diesel genset savings = Displaced kWh × XAF 280/kWh (true genset cost) System cost = kWp × XAF 700,000–1,000,000/kWp (~$1,150–1,650/kWp) No net metering — self-consumption and genset avoidance only Payback = Total cost ÷ Annual benefit (3–5yr genset; 7–10yr ENEO only)

Cameroon's electricity sector is dominated by ENEO (Energie du Cameroun), a majority private-sector utility with a 20-year concession since 2014. ENEO operates hydroelectric plants on the Sanaga and Wouri rivers, which supply much of southern Cameroon. The north is predominantly off-grid or diesel-dependent. Cameroon's Electricity Sector Law (Law 2011/022) allows independent power producers but no residential net metering scheme exists as of 2026. The government's Cameroon Electricity Sector Development Plan targets significant renewable capacity, primarily large hydro and solar IPP projects.

Example

Hassan — Garoua business with genset replacement, 8kWp

Hassan runs a retail business in Garoua with a monthly ENEO bill of XAF 35,000. Frequent ENEO outages force his diesel generator to run several hours per day. He installs an 8kWp system with battery storage to eliminate the genset.

Monthly billXAF 35,000

Region / PSHGaroua, 5.6 PSH

System size8 kWp

Genset replacementYes — XAF 280/kWh diesel

Result

Annual production~13,139 kWh/yr

Production per kWp~1,642 kWh/kWp/yr

ENEO savings~XAF 393,166/yr

Diesel genset savings~XAF 2,207,448/yr

Total annual benefit~XAF 2,600,614/yr

System cost~XAF 5,600,000–8,000,000

Payback~2.2–3.1 years

25-year net savings~XAF 57,415,350

Garoua's 5.6 PSH solar resource combined with the diesel genset elimination creates outstanding economics. The genset savings dwarf the ENEO bill savings — a pattern common across commercial Cameroon. At 2–3 year payback for a 25-year system, this is among the best solar ROI scenarios in Central Africa. The north's extraordinary solar resource and diesel dependence make it Cameroon's most compelling solar market despite lower population density.

FAQ

Is solar worth it in Cameroon? ▼

Yes — especially in northern Cameroon and for genset-replacing commercial users. Garoua (5.6 PSH) and Maroua (5.8 PSH) offer Sahelian-level solar radiation with widespread diesel dependence, giving payback of 2–4 years for genset replacement. Southern Cameroon (Yaoundé, Douala) has more cloud cover and lower ENEO tariffs, giving 7–10 year payback for grid-tied systems. No formal net metering scheme exists, so solar value comes from self-consumption and genset avoidance.

Does Cameroon have net metering for solar? ▼

Cameroon does not have a formal residential net metering or feed-in tariff scheme as of 2026. ENEO's concession terms and the Electricity Sector Law (2011/022) focus on large IPP projects. Grid-tied solar systems save only through self-consumption. The regulatory environment for distributed generation is expected to develop as ENEO's grid expands and renewable targets are set. Businesses considering larger commercial installations should consult the Ministry of Water and Energy (MINEE).

Which region of Cameroon has the best solar? ▼

Maroua (5.8 PSH) and Garoua (5.6 PSH) in far northern Cameroon are by far the sunniest — approaching Sahelian solar radiation levels. Bamenda (4.8 PSH) and Bafoussam (4.7 PSH) in the western highlands are also good. Yaoundé (4.5 PSH) and Bertoua (4.5 PSH) are moderate. Kribi (4.4 PSH) and Douala (4.3 PSH) on the equatorial coast are the cloudiest — the humid tropical climate significantly reduces solar production compared to the north. The variation from north (5.8 PSH) to south (4.3 PSH) is one of the largest within any single African country.

How much does solar cost in Cameroon? ▼

Installed solar in Cameroon costs approximately XAF 700,000–1,000,000 per kWp (~$1,150–1,650 USD/kWp). A 5kWp home system costs XAF 3,500,000–5,000,000. A 20kWp commercial system costs XAF 14,000,000–20,000,000. Equipment is primarily imported through Douala port from China and Europe. Cameroon has a growing solar installer market in Yaoundé, Douala, and increasingly in the north. Adding lithium battery storage for genset replacement costs XAF 200,000–350,000 per kWh of capacity.

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