War-driven blackouts in Sudan drive households to costly solar solutions
Sudanese families are adopting rooftop solar panels to cope with war-induced power outages, yet the high upfront cost leaves many unable to afford the technology.
The ongoing war between the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces has crippled the national power grid, reducing output from 4,400 megawatts to about 1,100 megawatts and causing daily blackouts that can last up to 16 hours. In response, many urban residents are installing rooftop solar panels; Randa al-Mansour, a mother of three in Omdurman, has relied on such a system for almost a year. However, the cost of a standard 10-kilowatt system—nearly $5,000—remains prohibitive for most low-income families.
The United Nations Development Program places grid damage at $3 billion, and the World Bank notes that 30% of Sudanese lack electricity, with rural areas hit hardest. Health impacts are acute: civil servant Manahel Madany, who needs constant refrigeration for insulin, frequently discards spoiled medication due to power cuts. The Sudan Doctors' Network warns that continued outages could jeopardize critical hospital care, especially for kidney patients. Despite Sudan's abundant solar potential, a depreciating currency and expensive imported equipment stall a broader transition to clean energy.
Why it matters
The story shows how war-driven power loss forces vulnerable Sudanese to rely on costly solar power, affecting health, education and daily life.
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