Sudan Solar Report

According to IRENA, Sudan’s total solar capacity installed as of 2023 was 190 MW.⁶

The projected solar capacity to be installed is approximately 810 MW for 2031 according to World bank.⁷

⁸⁹Solar: The average cost of electricity for solar photovoltaic systems in Sudan is approximately 0.038USD/kWh.

Hydropower: Sudan’s hydroelectric power plants generate electricity at an average cost of $0.035USD/kWh.

Thermal power plant: The cost of generating electricity from thermal power plants in Sudan varies between $43.64 and $100.00 per megawatt-hour (MWh), based on the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE).

• Hydroelectric power plants (43%)¹⁰
• Fossil fuel (50%)
• Solar and biomass (7%)

While exact hours of available electricity in Sudan are unavailable, there is widespread power outage with continuous cut that last several hours in the country and a significant supply-demand gap with available capacity meeting only 60% of the country’s electricity needs.⁷

Data for the exact number of residential solar panel installations in Sudan is not available, but several projects have been put in place for solar home systems. These include the pilot project that successfully installed 10,000 solar home systems and the Darfur Solar Electrification Project that aims to install an additional 8,120 solar systems, further expanding access to solar energy projects in Sudan.¹²

According to publicly available data, Sudan has only one operational solar plant; however, there are many projected solar plants underway.⁷¹¹²²

Sudan has a total 0.04 MW installed solar home system and 0.02 MW solar pump in 2019.¹²

The rural electrification program by the Ministry of Water Resources and Electricity aims to install 1.1 million Solar Home Systems (50-100-200W) by 2031.⁸

Current Capacity: As of now, Sudan  has 190 MW of installed solar PV capacity⁶⁷²²

Projected Demand: According to the World Bank, the expected solar power capacity is anticipated to reach approximately 810 megawatts (MW) by the year 2031.

In Sudan, the average monthly salary is approximately $60.76 USD – with a wide range of earnings spanning from a low of $ 15.32 USD to a high of $270.58 USD depending on experience, job role and location.¹³

Sudan’s population has reached approximately 50.45 million people as of 2024.¹⁴

The overhead costs for solar panel production in Sudan typically range from 20% to 25% of the total production cost.

Labor coststhe labor cost in Sudan varies depending on the industry,type of work, education, experience, industry, and location; Sudan’s monthly minimum wage ranges between $33.20 USD – $49.80 USD.¹⁵

Utility Cost:³¹⁶

• Industrial Electricity Prices : Approximately USD 0.029/kWh.
• Water cost: Sudan’s industrial water costs vary by region, but precise pricing information is not publicly available.
• Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment: $51.59 USD.

Insurance In 2024, the estimated average individual expenditure on insurance is approximately $45.53 per person.¹⁷

Administrative expenses costs associated with the management of the production process — including salaries of administrative staff, office supplies, and other general expenses — typically add up to a substantial part of the overhead.

Quality control expenses incurred to ensure the solar panels meet performance and safety standards, including testing and inspections.

Electricity generation: Sudan’s electricity generation mix is dominated by hydro-energy and thermal sources, with a total installed capacity of 3.5 gigawatts. Hydroelectric power accounts for roughly 68% of the country’s electricity generation; while thermal sources including diesel and heavy fuel oil make up the remaining portion.⁷¹⁰

Grid coverage: Sudan’s electricity grid, managed by the National Electricity Corporation (NEC) consists of two main interconnected systems: the Blue Nile Grid and the Western Grid. However, grid coverage is limited, primarily serving areas around Khartoum and extending south to Blue Nile State and reaching only about 30% of the population.”

Sudan’s electricity sector:

• Total installed capacity: 4.5 GW (2021)
• Generation mix: 50% fossil fuels, 43% hydroelectricity, 7% renewable energy sources (solar, biomass)
• Electricity generation: 16.6 billion kWh (2020), 60% from hydropower
• Transmission and distribution: limited, especially in rural western Sudan
• Access to electricity: 62% of population (2021), 84% urban, 49% rural
• Hydroelectricity: generated from large-scale plants in south, north, and east
• Government priorities: diversifying power mix, investing in thermal power, exploring wind and solar energy

Sudan is developing a comprehensive regulatory framework to support renewable energy projects:⁸

Power purchase agreement was implemented for the first solar park in Sudan, while feed in tariffs for renewable energy supply to the grid, net metering policies and regulation, renewable power obligation and renewable energy certificate are yet to be developed

Incentives: The government, in partnership with the UNDP and international donors, is launching a National Solar Fund to promote affordable solar energy. This fund will gather resources from various sources, including national banks, government entities, and international donors to offer low-cost loans for solar technology, enhancing its commercial viability and accessibility.¹⁸

Initiative: Solar home systems was initiated to individual households to install solar panels in installments, in collaboration with local banks —  initially targeting 100 users with 100 watts per user with the goal of reaching a total capacity of 110 megawatts by 2031. By 2018, the initiative had already expanded to benefit 1,500 homes, marking significant progress in Sudan’s transition to renewable energy.⁷

⁷¹¹²²

Sudan’s inaugural solar plant — with a capacity of 5 megawatts — was launched in 2020 in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State.

Sudan’s Ministry of Energy has signed a deal with a UAE solar company to build the country’s first large-scale solar parks (totaling 500 MW) in a significant step towards renewable energy.

Also, there are plans by the government to install 100MW of solar power plant in Dongola and also 10MW solar power plant in the state of River Nile.

Empower Renewable Energy Co. Ltd.¹⁹ is a prominent solar energy company in Sudan, providing a diverse portfolio of solutions, including:

• Grid-tie solar systems
• Hybrid solar systems
• Off-grid solar systems
• Solar-powered street lighting
• Solar water pumping systems

ACO Sudan²⁰ is a renowned solar energy company specializing in the installation of solar systems for both rooftop and standalone applications. It is a trusted provider of solar energy solutions in Sudan offering expert services for:

• Rooftop solar system installation
• Standalone solar system installation

Alramah Solar²¹ headquartered in Port Sudan, provides cutting-edge solar energy solutions customized to address the unique requirements of the region. Its features include:

• Tailored home and office solar systems
• Solar-powered air conditioning
• Solar irrigation pumps for agricultural applications

Alramah Solar delivers innovative, region-specific solar energy solutions.