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The East African country has an electricity access rate of 8.4% (as of 2022) A public-private partnership in South Sudan has launched the country’s first major solar power plant and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in the capital Juba, where it is expected to provide electricity to thousands of homes. This is a major step in reducing the country’s electricity access rate, which, in 2022, stood at 8.4% for 11.09 million people – the lowest in the world. The 20MW solar plant can generate sufficient power to supply electricity to up to 16,000 households in Juba, significantly reducing energy costs and bolstering grid reliability, said the project’s developer. “The accompanying BESS [14MWh] stores energy generated by the solar plant, enabling on-demand power supply, stabilising the grid and enhancing the reliability of renewable energy.” The BESS includes smart inverters, smart transformers (STSs) and smart loggers. The project was developed and financed in-house by Ezra Construction and Development Group, a subsidiary of the Ezra Group, a family-run conglomerate based in South Sudan. The Group said the success of the project was made possible through strategic collaboration with key partners: South Sudan Electricity Corporation (SSEC) and Ministry of Energy and Dams: These regulatory bodies oversee the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity in South Sudan. They play a crucial role in approving and facilitating the integration of renewable energy into the national grid. Juba Electricity Distribution Company (JEDCO): A public-private partnership between Ezra Group and SSEC, JEDCO serves as the primary electricity distributor to the public in Juba, receiving bulk energy from Ezra Construction Development Group. |
