In 2023, Sudan's electricity consumption stands noticeably below global averages. The nation generated over half of its electricity, approximately 12 TWh, from low-carbon sources almost entirely attributed to hydropower, while generating around 5 TWh from fossil fuels. At a per capita electricity consumption of just 352 kWh, Sudan falls dramatically short of the global average, which is nearly 11 times higher at 3781 kWh per person. Such low levels of electricity generation can constrain economic development and hinder improvements in quality of life. Limited access to electricity can impact sectors like healthcare, education, and infrastructure development, potentially maintaining cycles of poverty and limiting technological adoption, including the integration of AI.
Is Electricity Growing in Sudan?
Sudan's electricity consumption appears to be on a downward trajectory. The latest figures in 2023 show a decline from the previous high recorded in 2018, dropping by 37 kWh per person. This includes a decrease in low-carbon electricity generation, which fell by 9 kWh per person from 2022 to 235 kWh per person in 2023. This stagnation and regression are concerning, indicating challenges in meeting current electricity demands, let alone the increased future need for sustainable, low-carbon power generation.
Suggestions
To enhance low-carbon electricity generation, Sudan could draw insights from other regions. For instance, China's substantial investment in wind and solar power brings to light how beneficial diversifying sources can be—with China leading with 1093 TWh from wind and 890 TWh from solar. Similarly, the United States shows nuclear energy's promising potential, generating 781 TWh. It's evident that Sudan could greatly benefit from investing in solar power due to its abundant sunlight, akin to India's solar success, which stands at 150 TWh. The pursuit of nuclear energy, as exemplified by countries like France with 363 TWh and South Korea's 187 TWh, could offer a stable and clean energy boost, paving the way for a sustainable energy future.
History
In assessing the history of low-carbon electricity in Sudan, it's notable that improvements have predominantly been driven by hydropower developments. In the early 1980s, there were incremental increases of around 0.1–0.2 TWh annually. Significant progress was evident between 2009 and 2011 with a surge of nearly 5 TWh. Although there were periods of decline, around 2015 and 2016, these were generally overshadowed by subsequent recoveries such as the enhancement in 2013 and 2017. Most recently, in the early 2020s, hydropower saw minor growth, though 2023 marked a slight decline by 0.3 TWh, underlining the need for sustained and diversified low-carbon investments to ensure reliability and resilience in meeting electricity demands.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.