Can solar power solve energy poverty in South Sudan?

Because South Sudan is still in the beginning stages of their infrastructural development, there is a rare opportunity to move forward and address the issue of energy poverty by building sustainable models of electrification, like solar power, without having to dismantle an already existing energy foundation.

How does South Sudan produce energy?

Most of the country’s current energy production comes from generators that burn imported diesel, a costly method both economically and environmentally. According to the World Bank, only 8.4% of the population had reliable access to power and electricity in 2022, leaving the door wide open to produce much-needed renewable energy in South Sudan.

How do solar irrigation systems work in South Sudan?

These solar pumps harness the sun to power sensor-driven drip irrigation throughout villages in South Sudan, fostering a sustainable means of agricultural production while fighting increasingly common effects of climate change such as unpredictable floods and droughts, according to the Rainmaker Enterprise.

Could off-grid expansion help regenerative agriculture in South Sudan?

Their holistic approach broadened regenerative agriculture over a 12-acre plot, co-designing projects with communities, installing solar-powered drip irrigation pumps, training and employing farmers and supporting distribution. Off-grid expansion could be a major step towards increasing access to and awareness of renewable energy in South Sudan.