Sudan war blackouts drive solar demand as high costs exclude poorer families

The short version

• Sudan's electricity output has plummeted from 4,400 to 1,100 megawatts following drone strikes on power facilities during the civil conflict.[Associated Press]
• Urban power cuts have reached up to 16 hours, prompting demand for solar setups that cost around $5,000 for a standard 10-kilowatt home system.[ABC News]
• The high expense of solar systems leaves low-income households and rural populations unable to secure continuous electricity.[ABC News · Associated Press]

Key facts

• The United Nations Development Program estimated damage to Sudan's electricity infrastructure at $3 billion.[ABC News · Associated Press]
• Electricity output dropped from 4,400 megawatts before the war to 1,100 megawatts after Rapid Support Forces drone attacks hit power plants.[ABC News · Associated Press]
• Two electricity department officials reported that urban power outages have reached up to 16 hours in recent months.[ABC News · Associated Press]
• A standard 10-kilowatt household solar setup costs nearly $5,000, according to a solar business owner in Khartoum.[ABC News · Associated Press]
• The World Bank reported that at least 30% of Sudan's population lacks electricity access, with rural areas facing the worst shortages.[ABC News · Associated Press]
• Fighting between the Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces since April 2023 has killed at least 59,000 people and displaced around 13 million.[ABC News · Associated Press]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Sudan’s war-driven blackouts push residents toward solar power but high costs shut many outABC News - International
• Sudan’s war-driven blackouts push residents toward solar power but high costs shut many outAssociated Press · Wire: associated-press