Sudan University of Science and Technology College of Graduate Studies Department of Electrical Engineering

Applications of Solar Energy Systems in Sudan:
To evaluate the potential of different solar applications, a clear 
understanding of the fundamental criteria of success is obviously a first 
requirement [7]:
Criterion 32: Energy demand: 
The energy demand should be important enough, micro economically 
speaking, to justify investment costs in a solar system for the individual user. At 
the same time, the macroeconomic importance should be sufficient, in order to 
justify the development of solar systems.
Criterion 32: Energy supply:
Obviously the chances for the successful application of a solar system are 
greater in a climate with greater amounts of solar radiation.
Criterion 32: Solar system efficiency:
High radiation intensity values greatly contribute to solar system 
efficiency. Thus the climate can have a significant influence on efficiency.
Criterion 32: Solar system cost:
Spreading the use of a solar system over the whole year rather than over 
just a few months. In evaluating the solar system cost versus performance, its 
feasibility should be compared not only with the conventional system, but with 
all the other alternatives.
Criterion 33: Socio-economic outlook:
Different elements can play a crucial role here, e.g. the attitude of the users 
towards this new technology, the size and the degree of intensity of the 
populations. In this same socio-economic context, it is appropriate to stress the 

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widely recognized desirable aspects of solar system from the environmental 
point of view.
Small villages, particularly the isolated ones and/or low population 
density, are the most appropriate location for solar applications because 
conventional supplies of electricity are both difficult and expensive to provide it 
to these villages. Camped et al. [8] suggest that, photovoltaic technologies has 
been often shown to be the most effective solution for improving such services 
in remote, un-electrified areas. The PV system includes a solar system consists 
of a photovoltaic solar panel; which convert the suns energy into electricity form 
depending on a propriety of certain semi-conductors; such as silicon, cadmium 
sulfide and gallium arsenide, battery, charging controller and end uses.
Grothoff [9] reported that, countries in Africa with the highest PV 
potential include among others, Sudan. Solar PV applications in Sudan started as 
early as 1970 [10]. PV technologies have a number of applications relevant to 
rural use in Northern State (Sudan). These include among others, electricity 
generation, PV pumping, telecommunication network, vaccine refrigeration for 
human and animal use, traffic lighting and lighting of road sign, over-speed 
detection on high ways, security services, schools power supply, rural health 
clinics, community centers and clubs, mosques and khalwa (s) lighting. A Field 
survey to selected locations showed that, the operators of the installed systems 
were certain people who were assigned to do the job, depending on where the 
utility was installed. Battery replacement and disposal were serious problems. 
Solar panels sited at ground level became dirty more quickly. Dust deposition on 
PV panels caused degradation of PV panel’s performance and energy yield 
losses, in the same manner other particulate accumulation (e.g. birds residues) 
causes on PV panels transmission loss. Also, there were cracks seen on the upper 
cover of solar panels in some sites. Solar panels mounted near ground were more 

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susceptible to damage by animals or children. This necessitates both periodic 
cleaning and maintenance of the solar panels. The major problem was that solar 
energy technologies require high initial capital cost. Most of this capital cost for 
implementation of these technologies was provided by a number of international 
aid programs. The sustainability of most the project was not achieved and these 
projects had stopped after cessation of foreign funding. All of the potential uses 
of PV technologies are too numerous to include here, therefore, only some of the 
more important uses are mentioned, especially those that have been 
demonstrated successfully. The current contribution of solar energy systems to 
the energy sector in the State include:
Rural Electrification:
Table 3.1 presents the main sources of energy for lighting in the State, it 
cleared that 45% of the households doesn’t used public electricity as energy 
source for lighting, major of these percentage is in rural area. The lack of 
electricity raises a lot of negative effects that dramatically limit a community’s 
potential rate of growth, as well as residents’ basic quality of life.
Table 3.1 Main sources of energy for lighting in Sudan:
In recent years, attention has risen again regarding the issue of rural access 
to electricity supply and regarding the relation between energy (electricity) and 
Source of lighting 
No. of households (%) 
Without lighting 
1 
Candle 
2 
Wood 
1 
Kerosene lamp (lantern) 
14 
Generator 
27 
Public electricity 
55 

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poverty. Rural energy is generally recognized as an important element of rural 
socioeconomic development. Therefore, Barrier Removal to Secure PV Market 
Penetration in Semi-Urban Sudan Project (PVP) was started in 1999 and spreads 
over 12 states; included Northern State, to remove the barriers that hindered 
market penetration of PV applications in general and households in particular. 
The PVP funded jointly by UNDP, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and 
the Government of Sudan. Generally, the project focused on dissemination of 
photovoltaic systems with emphasis on provision of electricity for small-scale 
applications to satisfy the first assessed need. The Northern State is large and 
sprawling, and has too Nile Islands and vast arable land. Therefore, solar 
electricity can be used for power supply to remote villages and locations not 
connected to the national grid. The main lighting systems using solar energy 
were installed in mosques and prayer rooms (Zaoya(s)), schools, health centers, 
clubs, security points and miscellaneous (some houses of authorized persons, 
official offices, Khalwa(s),etc.). Through PVP many such systems had been 
installed in the State and an achievement for improvements in social interaction 
was maintained. Number of solar panels in each system is illustrated in Fig 3.2; 
the largest number of systems is consisted of two solar panels for small uses.
Figure 3.2 Number of solar panels in solar energy systems
 
Also, Fig 3.3. Shows the distribution of solar energy systems in the 
utilities, major part of the systems is used for operating of amplifiers and lighting 

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of mosques and prayer room (Zaoya(s)) followed by schools power supply and 
health centers. 
Figure 3.3 Distribution of solar energy systems in the utilities