SOMALIA
POWER AFRICA FACT SHEET
The page below gives an overview of the energy sector in Somalia and explains Power Africa's involvement in the country.
SOMALIA ENERGY SECTOR OVERVIEW
Population: 15 million | GDP (1): $4.72 billion
Since the fall of Somalia’s central government in 1991, electricity service has solely been a role of the dynamic Somali private sector. The current installed generation capacity is approximately 106 MW. While most power companies rely on diesel generators for electricity generation, interest and investment is growing in hybrid systems that draw on solar and wind energy resources. According to a recent study by the African Development Bank, Somalia has the highest resource potential of any African nation for onshore wind power and could generate between 30,000 to 45,000 MW. Solar power could potentially generate an excess of 2,000 kWh/m2. Only an estimated 16% of the population has access to electricity. Somalia has higher tariffs compared to neighboring countries Kenya and Ethiopia. .
GENERATION CAPACITY
Total Installed Capacity (2): 29 MW
- Diesel: 20 MW
- Solar: 3 MW
- Diesel, wind, solar: 6 MW
Power Africa new MW to date at financial close: 0 MW
CONNECTIONS
- Current Access Rate (3): 18%
- Urban: 25%
- Rural: <5%
- Power Africa new connections: 29,342
POWER AFRICA SUCCESS STORIES IN SOMALIA
Strengthening Power Grids in Somalia with Digital Technology
NECSOM
Power Africa supports Somalia’s clean energy transition to address cost and reliability. Through targeted support to energy service providers (ESPs) like NECSOM, the National Power Corporation, Power Africa is improving the investment readiness of the sector and developing feasibility studies to evaluate new technology and business models.
As part of this workstream, Power Africa supported a business development mission to Somalia by U.S. digital energy technology company SparkMeter. As a result of this visit, NECSOM decided to pilot SparkMeter’s technology on their 20,000-customer distribution network. The deployment of digital solutions in this energy system wracked by losses, delivery challenges, and high prices offers an exciting chance to prove the value of utility digitalization.
Power Africa and SparkMeter met with Somali ESPs, and developed five actionable recommendations that are now being implemented with NECSOM’s pilot of SparkMeter’s solution.
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