Sudan’s electricity grid has suffered up to US$3 billion in damage since the war began in 2023. For millions of households, farms and clinics, solar power has become the only feasible source of power, but it is still out of reach for millions more. A new UNDP study maps Sudan’s solar energy value chain, tracing a surge in demand alongside the obstacles that still prevent most Sudanese from accessing clean, affordable power.

The study finds that despite a steep global fall in panel prices, currency depreciation means local costs have more than quadrupled. Distribution bottlenecks, scarce financing and a flood of low-quality products are holding back a sector with enormous potential. The report also describes what’s needed to change that.