Abdoulaye Waly Diallo

A Senegalese engineer and entrepreneur who pioneered affordable solar energy solutions for rural Africa, revolutionizing access to clean power.

Abdoulaye Waly Diallo (born 1972) is a Senegalese engineer and founder of Energysud, a company that designs and distributes low-cost solar energy systems in West Africa. Growing up in a rural village without electricity, Diallo witnessed the struggles of communities reliant on expensive and polluting fuels. His innovative approach to solar technology, including modular systems that can be easily installed and maintained locally, has provided electricity to over 500,000 households in Senegal, Mali, and Guinea. Diallo’s work addresses both energy poverty and climate change, earning him recognition as a finalist for the Zayed Sustainability Prize in 2018. He advocates for decentralized energy solutions that empower communities to take ownership of their energy needs. His contributions are documented in the documentary Sunshine in the Savannah, which explores renewable energy’s role in Africa’s development. Diallo’s initiatives align with global goals like the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), making him a leading voice in Africa’s green energy movement.