This article presents a case study of the struggles of South Sudan, the newest country to develop a new electricity grid, and the strategic choices it faces in a post-conflict situation. In addition to the energy tri.
Image: The recently launched 20MW solar energy plant in South Sudan. Credit: Ezra Group A public-private partnership in South Sudan has launched the country's first major solar power plant and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in the capital Juba, where it is expected to provide electricity to thousands of homes.
South Sudan imports a small amount of electricity from Sudan through a 32 MW/220 kV interconnector in Upper Nile State that distributes power to local customers through the Renk substation, but the supply from this line has been unreliable due to the power shortage in Sudan.
At present, the grid-based electricity situation in South Sudan is characterized by routine power outages and lack of efficiency in the distribution system . In fact, in 2020, 580 GWh or nearly 100 % of electricity was produced from oil and gas, and just 1 GWh from renewable sources .
South Sudan has one of the lowest energy access rates in Sub-Saharan Africa and in the world. While 46 percent of Sub-Saharan Africa's population now has access to electricity, the energy access rate in South Sudan is estimated to be only 5.3 percent based on recent World Bank-funded primary research.
According to recent projections, in the long term, the demand for electricity in South Sudan could grow to 1400 MW by 2030. In sum, the fundamental challenge for South Sudan is to build new public service infrastructure and refurbish depleted water, energy, transportation, and communication systems.
Despite having an abundance of energy resources, particularly fossil fuels, South Sudan struggles to give its citizens access to electricity. The long period of historical neglect of the region by the Sudanese government before independence and the recent conflict, is the primary cause of the current energy challenges.
A public-private partnership in South Sudan has launched the country's first major solar power plant and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in the capital Juba, where it is expected to provide electricity to thousands of homes.
A public-private partnership in South Sudan has launched the country's first major solar power plant and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in the capital Juba, where it is expected to provide electricity to thousands of homes.
A public-private partnership in South Sudan has launched the country's first major solar power plant and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in the capital Juba, where it is expected to provide electricity to thousands of homes.
According to the request for proposals issued on July 30, the program calls for 16 standalone projects, each rated at 10MW/40MWh, totaling 160MW/640MWh of four-hour storage capacity. Selected developers will design, build, own, and operate the systems under 15-year agreements.
9MWh storage system, constructed over 20 months at a cost of more than $5. 7 million, will store energy and release it to the National Interconnected System when required to meet the demand, thereby deferring the need for additional generation resources.
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