This paper presents findings from the LEOPARD project, part of the LEAP-RE program, a joint European Union (EU) and African Union initiative to advance renewable energy solutions. The study employs a simulation-based approach to optimize solar-integrated microgrid configurations for rural electrification. The project deployed a solar-integrated pilot microgrid at the Songhai agroecological center in Benin to address key challenges, including load profile estimation, energy balancing, and diesel dependency reduction. A hybrid methodology integrating predictive modeling, real-time solar and weather data analysis, and performance simulations was employed, leading to a 65% reduction in diesel reliance and an LCOE of EUR 0.47/kWh. Quality control measures, including compliance with IEC 61215 and IEC 62485-2 standards, ensured system reliability under extreme conditions. Over 150 days, the system consistently supplied energy, preventing 10.16 tons of ${CO}_2$ emissions. Beyond the Benin pilot, the project conducted feasibility assessments in Senegal to evaluate microgrid replicability across different socio-economic and environmental conditions. These analyses highlight the scalability potential and the economic viability of expanding solar microgrids in rural areas. Additionally, this research explores innovative business models and real-time diagnostics to enhance microgrid sustainability. By providing a replicable framework, it promotes long-term energy access and regional adaptability. With a focus on community involvement and capacity building, this study supports efforts to reduce energy poverty, strengthen European–African collaboration, and advance the global clean energy agenda.

This study analyses the perceptions of beneficiaries on market gardening and horticultural grafting technologies of Adansonia digitata L. (baobab). The study involved a representative sample of 106 individuals. The methodological approach adopted consisted of individual surveys, group interviews and statistical estimations. The Chi-square and Pearson's test of independence were used to test the dependence of perceptions on certain socio-economic characteristics (gender, source of income, etc.). Correspondence factor analysis (CFA) analyses and the non-parametric Krusall-Wallis test were applied to the frequency data matrices to relate the perception groups to the extended technologies and villages. The results showed that management style (p=0.003) and beneficiaries' access to high trees (p=0.04) differed between sites. However, the level of accessibility determines the satisfaction of fresh leaf needs which also induces the level of adoption of the technologies by the beneficiaries. In addition, it is shown that the reasons for adoption such as ease of collection, proximity, fruiting of large trees (p=0.04), depend significantly on gender and justify some of the changes made such as the reduction of time spent searching for leaves in the bush. The results obtained will be used in future campaigns to introduce grafting and baobab market gardening technologies. Indeed, the socio-economic determinants found will be mobilized to increase the adoption rates of baobab technologies and, more globally, of reforestation campaigns in Senegal.

In the middle and upper Casamance, the products of the baobab tree (Adansonia digitata L.) make an important contribution to the lives of the population. However, information on the status of baobab populations in this area is insufficient. The aim of this study is to characterise the baobab parks in this area from a biophysical point of view. To do this, the sample involved 756 baobab trees, 89 of which were in hut parks, 223 in villages and 444 in the bush. The parameters assessed on each baobab tree were circumference at 1.3m, total height, crown diameter, number of primary branches, distance between individuals, level of fruiting and signs of anthropisation. The data were subjected to an analysis of variance with the ANOVA test followed by the Student Newman Keuls test at the 05% threshold. The results showed a significant difference (Pvalue <0.05) between parks for each parameter except circumference at 1.3m. The village parks had the highest values for circumference at 1.3m (5.27±2.12m), for crown diameter (14.06±6.62m) and for distance between baobabs (19.12±8m). On the other hand, the tallest baobabs (37.79±8.93m) with the highest number of primary branches (22±14) are observed in the bush parks. According to the structural analysis, the majority of the parks (<50%) have large baobabs. The hut and village parks are dominated by the height and diameter classes of [25-35] m and [5-10] m respectively. On the other hand, in the bush parks, the most represented baobabs are found in the height <35m and diameter [1-5] m classes. Furthermore, the results on fruiting showed that bush parks have more baobabs with a high level of fruiting. Also, concerning anthropisation, high rates (more than 52% of baobabs) were noted for each type of park. These results show an ageing baobab population threatened by strong anthropic pressure. Thus, efforts should be made to ensure the survival of these baobab populations, which are essential to the life of local populations, through better management.

This study investigates long-term energy transition pathways for Senegal up to 2050 using the integrated optimization model GENeSYS-MOD. Building on previous studies, it adopts a spatially explicit multi-sector perspective integrating electricity, transport, industry, storage, and hydrogen within a unified optimization framework. The Senegalese energy system is represented through seven regional nodes and simulated over the period 2022–2050 under three scenarios reflecting different levels of climate ambition: Business-as-Usual (BAU), Intermediate Decarbonization (ID), and Net Zero (NZ). The analysis evaluates the evolution of energy supply, technology deployment, sectoral energy consumption, electricity dispatch, and CO2 emissions across the three pathways. The results indicate that large-scale deployment of solar photovoltaic and onshore wind, combined with the progressive electrification of transport and industry, constitutes the primary driver of long-term decarbonization. Under the ID scenario, renewable energy reaches nearly 73% of electricity generation by 2050, while the NZ pathway results in an almost fully renewable electricity system. Natural gas contributes to system reliability and facilitates renewable energy integration by replacing oil-based generation during the transition period; however, continued reliance on gas beyond 2040 becomes incompatible with deep decarbonization objectives. The analysis highlights the importance of battery storage, hydrogen, and sector coupling for integrating high shares of variable renewable energy, enhancing system flexibility, and reducing emissions. Overall, the study demonstrates the value of integrated multi-sector energy system modeling for supporting energy planning and provides insights into the technological and structural transformations required to achieve secure, sustainable, and low-carbon development pathways in Senegal and other emerging African economies.