Master thesis in Sustainable Development 2017/16 Examensarbete i Hållbar utveckling Solar Energy potential in The Sudan Musadag El Zein DEPARTMENT OF EARTH SCIENCES INSTITUTIONEN FÖR GEOVETENSKAPER Master thesis in Sustainable Development 2017/16 Examensarbete i Hållbar utveckling Solar Energy potential in The Sudan Musadag El Zein Supervisor: Ashok Swain Evaluator: Florian Krampe Copyright © Musadag El Zein and the Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University Published at Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University (www.geo.uu.se), Uppsala, 2017 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1. Why Solar Energy? ............................................................................................................................... 1 1.2. “Potential” and what it entails? ............................................................................................................ 2 1.3. Aim of the research .............................................................................................................................. 2 1.4. Research Questions .............................................................................................................................. 3 1.5. Research method and limitations .......................................................................................................... 3 1.6. Q&A from Sudan decision makers ....................................................................................................... 3 1.6.1. Methodology .................................................................................................................................. 3 1.6.2. Data................................................................................................................................................ 3 2. Background ................................................................................................................................................. 4 2.1. Sudan in brief ....................................................................................................................................... 4 2.2. Sudan’s Energy sector .......................................................................................................................... 6 2.3. Sudan’s Renewable Energy sector ....................................................................................................... 7 2.3.1. Biomass Resources ........................................................................................................................ 8 2.3.2. Hydropower ................................................................................................................................... 8 2.3.3. Thermal Energy ............................................................................................................................. 9 2.3.4. Wind power ................................................................................................................................. 10 2.3.5. Solar Energy ................................................................................................................................ 10 3. Insight into Solar Energy ........................................................................................................................... 11 3.1. Solar Thermal Energy ......................................................................................................................... 12 3.2. Solar Photovoltaic Energy .................................................................................................................. 13 3.3. Present global markets and shares of solar energy ............................................................................. 14 4. Solar Energy Influencing Factors .............................................................................................................. 15 4.1. Natural Resource and Environment .................................................................................................... 15 4.2. Technology and infrastructure ............................................................................................................ 16 4.3. Economy ............................................................................................................................................. 21 4.4. Policies ............................................................................................................................................... 22 4.5. Public awareness and acceptance ....................................................................................................... 24 5. Sudan present parameters .......................................................................................................................... 24 5.1. Natural Resource and Environment .................................................................................................... 24 5.2. Technology and Infrastructure ............................................................................................................ 26 5.3. Economy ............................................................................................................................................. 27 5.4. Policies ............................................................................................................................................... 29 5.5. Public Awareness and Acceptance ..................................................................................................... 31 6. Discussion ................................................................................................................................................. 32 6.1. From an Energy perspective ............................................................................................................... 33 6.2. From a Sustainability and Environmental perspectives ...................................................................... 34 6.3. From an Economic perspective .......................................................................................................... 36 6.4. Appliances supporting Agriculture ..................................................................................................... 37 6.5. Respondent’s Views ........................................................................................................................... 37 6.6. Successful stories ................................................................................................................................ 38 7. Optimum Approach ................................................................................................................................... 39 8. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................. 40 9. Acknowledgement ..................................................................................................................................... 41 10. References ............................................................................................................................................... 42 11. Appendix A ............................................................................................................................................. 46 Solar Energy potential in The Sudan MUSADAG EL ZEIN El Zein, M., 2017: Solar Energy potential in The Sudan. Master thesis in Sustainable Development at Uppsala University, No. 2017/16, 50 pp, 30 ECTS/hp Abstract: Sudan’s loss of its oil-rich south in 2011 made it realize the significance of renewable energy. Present huge energy demands particularly from the residential and agricultural sectors are causing more pressure on Sudan’s already crippling economy. For a country like Sudan, solar energy according to the study acquires a huge potential in terms of contributing to the energy sector and development of the country altogether. However, the study also identifies how solar energy’s potential is being challenged by country’s lack of incentives and current policies. With present circumstances, off-grid solar energy systems (e.g. Stand-alone Photo-Voltaic systems), could play a large role in making a positive change to the country and its development. Many successful solar projects implemented in neighboring countries should be encouraging Sudan to follow the same path and work on the influencing factors standing against solar energy diffusion. With having supporting policies along with various mechanisms of securing financing under a transparent cooperative context between various stakeholders could serve as the roadmap in promoting such a valuable technology in which Sudan is in desperate need of. Keywords: Sustainable Development, Sudan, Renewable energy, Solar energy, Off-grid systems, Stand-alone PV systems Musadag El Zein, Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Villavägen 16, SE- 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden Solar energy potential in The Sudan MUSADAG EL ZEIN El Zein, M., 2017: Solar energy in The Sudan. Master thesis in Sustainable Development at Uppsala University, No. 2017/16, 50 pp, 30 ECTS/hp Summary: Sudan is in the midst of energy transition after it lost its oil-rich south in a referendum in 2011. The country also intends to contribute in combatting climate change affects. It is a challenging task for a country like