Promotion of Solar Applications as Sustainable Energy Source in Somalia

Somalia

OPEC FUND supported United Nations Development Program (UNDP by US400,000 to harness solar energy potential in Somalia by demonstrating solar photo-voltaic (PV) and solar thermal solutions at health facilities in major cities/towns and other public buildings of Somalia. The OFID grant project aimed at harnessing solar energy potential by demonstrating solar photo-voltaic (PV) solutions at public buildings in Mogadishu. The project had three components namely: 1) Project implementation support; 2) Demonstration of Solar systems and appliances at public buildings and Institutions; and 3) Capacity development for the staffs at Government and public Institutions. The project also provided basic solar appliances, like solar lanterns, for the community centres (IDPs camps). The project was designed to improve the access to reliable sources of energy at demonstrable level, thereby, solving the problems in the energy sector The project implementation modality was direct implementation by UNDP Somalia Country Office where technical and professional services for setting up of energy systems were provided to Government institutions including Office of the Prime Minister in Villa Somalia, Mogadishu Nursing and Midwifery School, as well as the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) communities in Mogadishu. The professional services covered experts’ inputs for assessment, design, construction supervision, operations, training, market studies and quality checks of the established solar facilities and appliances. UNDP worked closely with the office of the Prime Minister, Departmental heads of the Mogadishu Midwifery School and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management (MoHADM) as the main focal point in decision making and coordinating of the OFID funded project activities. Furthermore, the Office of the Prime Minister, the Federal Ministry of Energy and Water resources and the Federal Ministry of Planning served significant oversight role for the technical assessments, designing and installation of solar facilities at public buildings and institutions. The project completed the assessment of the office facilities to be covered by the solar energy systems. The retrofitting needs were established that helped in finalising the specification of solar energy system requirements for the Office of Prime Minister. As such, a 76 KVA Hybrid solar systems with a capacity of 35% fuel saving or 120 liters of diesel daily was installed in the Office of Prime Minister in Villa Somalia. This installation sufficiently demonstrated how solar energy can be used to power public offices with cheap, sustainable and clean energy. A 9000 watts solar system was also installed at Mogadishu midwifery school which provides nursing and midwifery course to female students. The solar provided sustainable clean energy and reduce the burden of the electricity bill of diesel-powered generators. AS part of the clean energy programme, - 600 solar powered lanterns were distributed to 300 female headed households within Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) communities in Mogadishu. Solar lanterns can significantly improve safety, especially for women and girls in IDP communities, and provide the opportunity for school children to study after dark. The lanterns are also a clean and safe source of light that can replace potentially hazardous forms of lighting such as candles and kerosene lamps, helping to reduce the risk of fire, and the negative health impacts of burning kerosene indoors. As part of capacity building 50 youth were trained on the operating and maintenance of solar based systems. The trained youth were engaged in the installations of the solar systems to give them on the job training and support the functionality of the solar facilities in Banadir region.