Wind energy in Sudan

nd energy 117su dan Water pumping

in rural areas

N

ew

and

renewable

sources

of

energy can make an increasing contribution

to the energy sup-

ply mix of developing favourable

countries in view of

renewable

endowments,

energy

limitations

and

resource uncertain-

ties of fossil fuel supplies, adverse balance of payments, on

the

and tbe increasing pressure

environment

energy generation. energy

from

technologies,

mechanical

and

conventional

Among

the renewable

the

electric

generation

power

of

by wind

machines has emerged as an economically viable and cost effective option. the Sudanese pay

more

energy

government

attention

Therefore

has begun

in rural areas in particular

cost-effective pumping

to

to the use of wind

solution

as a

to assist in water

and irrigation.

In this

article,

National

Abdeen

Company

Water

Equipment

Sudan

discusses

Limited of wind

water pumping

in Sudan.

riences,

that,

encouraged, mented,

and

(NCMWE),

surrounding turbines

the

for use in

Results

wind

promoted,

for remore

Omer,

Manufacturing

issues

implementation suggest

Mustafa

for

and expe-

energy

must

invested,

demonstrated,

but

be

impleespecially

rural areas in the region.

Geography, population and energy sources Sudan

is the largest

continent, million

October

2001

RE’

E,‘)’ ,$ I’:

www.re-focus.net

with an area of approximately

meters).

It is a relatively The

growth

of the African

square miles (2.5 million

country. census

34

country

1996

total

sparsely

population

was 30 million

rate is 2.8%,

one

square kilopopulated

according

inhabitants.

and population

to The

density

FEATURE

is 10 persons

per square

Sudan

like

most

has suffered

increase

of oil prices

Spending

the

increasing

oil,

50%

could

of the income 12%

Biomass

residues

and

accounting

country’s

for

total

The

electricity

1%

of

hydro,

and

[4]. The

45%

and

tant

since

The

grated

the

plans.

The

very

problems

especially

vices

for people

water,

education,

and

Although a lot of work

water

70%

that

of the

rural

from

and small Sudan

piped

thrust

foreign Aspects

Renewable

to

than have

supply

which

wells,

boreholes

policy

is

its main

in the broadest goals are to ensure

of energy

and

potable

the fuel mix to attenuate and to conserve

energy energy

concern

energy.

and some

must be included needs

financial

policy

support:

bottlenecks

[8].

is

of a pubwith

deliv-

grid

does

to be an option

(3) Technical

I

explored.

bottlenecks

l

Lack of good

l

Lack of appropriate

l

Lack

designs,

resource

of local

assessment. technology.

this

maintenance

which

and

spare

could

goal,

and

and

suitable

Wind

to low/medium

resource

data

over a number

ofyears

ters coupled stations

energy

1). The Port

eastern

Sudan)

(greater

than

(Dongola,

and

Karima)

Gezira

power

potential latitude;

the greater

wind

the

regions

have

lower

above

9”.

wind

high wind

enjoy

good

wind

regions

have

speeds,

while

new

l

the rural

generation

potential.

the

In other

9” ‘N (tropical potential

than

October 2001

energy

speeds.

experi-

is imperative.

should

be able to supply

rapidly.

for wind

Machines

machines

and

down

for wind

financially

should

wind

related ener-

attractive.

be better

regimes

Cooperation

To

with

increase

machines

the

l

words

To carry pumping

region)

to

matched ensure

utility

the

to

better

in wind

utilization

following

pro-

of

wind

guidelines

should

if a

pump

: )j’ I js., www.re-focusnet

accurate

demand

studies

(wind

quality

on water

speeds,

of water,

water

and

water

of

wind

needs.).

l

role in

out

availability,

To

tackle

machines

wind

Sudan

as follows:

be followed:

latitude,

needs in Sudan

low-cost

REe

Prices

are

though

ject is necessary.

the region

play a significant

of

parts

that

yields. l

the

is proportion-

higher

l

potential

low wind

in Sudan

could

from

maintenance

spare

l

energy

meeting

Manufacturer

local

Technology development Wind

Good

l

Khartoum

have the poorest

below

learned

gy to become

also

the

situations.

region

of the prevailing

al to the

l

in of

may still be limited

head

The northern

The

designs in Sudan,

of application

costs have to come

low wind

The wind

(Halaib,

pump

speeds

The western

regions

for

wind

application

lessons

of R&D work

in the development

wind

has relatively

regions

comparatively

high

4.5 ms-1.

potentials.

The

amount

ences can be summarized

1 and Table

of Sudan

very

5 ms -1).

exceeding

potential

(Figure

region

has

at selected

the great

in Sudan

the

Sudan

cup anemome-

recorders

for

the range

by

Office,

using

to chart

has indicated

wind

collected

Department

reliable

for local

In pursuing

development

has resulted

Wind energy potential in Sudan

fairly

enough

be evolved.

a considerable

design,

Sudan

Meteorological

are simple

manufacture

supply.

southern

schemes.

grid

by the utility.

plant

seem

because

[8]. The

upon

that is being

speeds

the water More

of developing

of environmental

(1) To overcome

has

do not

supply

Other

dependence,

use of renewable

and

will be to lower the cost

supply

to diversify

for

priority

because

to the community,

reliable

the

government

water

energy

sense of the term.

water,

water

is in the process

of energy

the

drinking give high

water

scale,

energy

population

of this policy

in use

to develop

protected

comprehensive

been

is unbearable.

to reasonable

obtained

of

and rural

of wind

development

situation

access

done

Sudanese

programs

supply

ser-

provision

have

of clean The

defined

areas for people

[7] on a limited

has been

the provision

rural

pumps

application

sanitation.

life

for the medical

animals,

in Sudan

large-scale

is potentially

without the

operation

parts

[6].

wind

for decades

It has

essential

communication

industries

to

ery to the public

development

in rural

like in the use of energy

small

inte-

the

does not

generation

Private

not

in the National

solving

which

lic power

Energy

at

distribu-

this.

connection

and

is well

role of renewables in

utility

to

of surplus

of the

Private

as

of power delivery

is presently

tion

site spe-

National

and

bottle-

grid

encourage

Renewable

in regional

significant

discretion

impor-

and

spelled

public

power

such

of

costs.

generation

the

60%

but this is not enough.

to be integrated

the

from

resources,

strategy

and

periods

subsequent

frowned

are regional

Sudanese

Policy,

Private with

generation)

energy.

SUDAN

provid-

Legal/institutional

[3].

of

more

IN

necks

pic-

consumed

local

of

[5], and clearly

Energy

(2)

as fuel

technologies

renewable

in

payback investment

at most

thermal

are

of energy

the

Long high

supplies.

sources

sources

l

con-

(55%

are becoming

there

and

87%

sector

energy

wind

indefinite

Plan

from

electricity

Renewable solar

the more

energy

supplies

household

of the total

meet

represented

energy

maintenance

a project.

consumption

sector

total

is not always

ed for in the preparation

utilized

about

energy

of

decades.

energy

Sudan’s

of

Cost

fuel, agricultural

waste)

availability

earnings

earnings

(wood

animal

and

ENERGY

repair

l

the sharp

not

of total

is dominating

cific.

importing

last

Cost

WIND

capital.

Oil bills consume

is only

sumption.

source

but

demand.

oil share

ture,

oil

a lot from in the

l

[2].

most of its hard currency

in importing

than

resources

of

countries

[ 11. Sudan

kilometer

is rich in land and water

-

l

To

the

production

at lower

implement

credits

machines

purchase.

To hold

information

and radio

about

cost. favouring

programs

the advantages

wind

on T.V. of wind

energy.

35

FEATURE

Table 1. Annual average at 10 m AGL (9)

36

wind speeds,

annual

-

WIND

wind powers

October 2001

ENERGY

and number

REP::

IN

SUDAN

of years of observations

www.re-focus.net

for 70 stations

in Sudan,

FEATURE

To achieve

l

ers

joint

and

wind

from

university

development

Lack

manufactur-

students

of new

the and

regime.

for

wind

pumps

studies

out

projects

and

on irrigation

electricity

supply

and

application

drainage,

WIND

factors

Use

of wind

with

traditional

and

IN

and

program

as an

the wind

program

and

of physical

other

than

SUDAN

pumps

does

farm

not

of

alternative,

(4) The

competing

Constraints There

are

numerous

implementation grammes the

in Sudan.

apparently

high

materials

cost

pro-

the

pumps

the potential

appears

to be high

of a local wind

in Sudan.

the industry

This

ogy and is also competitive financially)

with

to the specific Emergence

demands

industrial

sector

the

through

wind

in the

of

to date

well, many

the

still have such

.

in variation

Wide from

range

low wind

.

Insufficient

. .

Varied

speed

through

by

study

and

requires

design

dropping

con-

changes

of water

level of wind

to

levels.

market

peretration.

working

is

of

capital.

schemes

reliable

designs

wind

salters

users;

and

wind

effective

as small

pumps),

wind

to certain farms

(need-

this basis

a maras

is devel-

electric

might

obvious

others

whereas impacts pumps

(1) Water

can

pump

(2) It would

chargers,

of

the

suitable

water (3) The

a sucfactors

are

less apparent.

machines

(21 Omer,

electrical

so that

pumping

soft

energy,

conserve

a water

October 2001

loans

wind

government

ducing

for the gov-

exchange.Farmers with

U.K.,

pumping

RE

so

precious

the

A.M.,

energy

backEnergy

(l-4),

in Sudan, Vol

pp. 467

Compilation

and

energy

Renewable

12, No.

-

evaluaresources

Energy

1, pp.

39 -

Journal, 69,

U.K.,

[31 Energy

Research

Renewable Sudan,

should

Institute

energy

Khartoum, A.M.,

Review

World

of hydropower

Energy

(NEA), for

be

power

Energy

and

1985

energy the

,

techSudan,

Congress

III,

1994.

Jansen,

W.A.

CWD

M..,

report

81

198 1. Administration

Energy Renewable

energy

Sudan,

Khartoum,

assessment Sudan,

1983. A.M.,

Wind

speeds

and

wind

in

Sudan,

4th

Arab

potential

International Amman,

January

September,

Y. H.,

the

191 Omer.

Plan

Sudan,

in

Renewable

[81 National

Energy

Renewable

U.K.,

in

1997.

Administration

applications

Reading,

in

1997.

Sudan,

(NEA), The National _ 2000, Khartoum,

A.M.,

potential

Sudan,

Khartoum,

nology

(ERI),

resources

Solar

Jordan,

Energy

November,

Conference, 1993.

for installing Contact:

machines.

should

in

1998.

Wind energy in Sudan, - 2, The Netherlands,

or diesel

in wind

can

energy

Renewable

tion of solar and wind

[71 Hamid,

need to

rotors,

14, No.

Reading

October,

foreign

designs

Vol.

161 Omer,

be advantageous

associa-

other

established

Sudan

Journal,

tak-

set of factors

sets.

diameter

rotor

cost effective

substitute

nation

with

A.M.,

an overview,

and without

of these

wind

be

its

e.g. annual

Moreover,

ground;

1985.

are

and

term.

[II Omer,

they

total

be set up with

scale with

to

and

promo-

References:

Often

on the implementation

that

farms

pumps

are as follows:

pumping

they

the

the introduction

Some

(needing

fish

battery

make

cess or a failure.

provided

for local production.

intentions, of wind

the

are bright.

international

should

[51 National

in isolation

in to account

pumps

1997.

for the concept

good

pumps

of knowledge

in Sudan.

Sudan,

to invest

irrigation

pumps

Lack of reliable wind

mass from

organiza-

construction

ernment

large

over 7.5 m).

.

On

have at least 5m diameter

for extension

and

are introduced

of wind

for

cost

areas such

ing small

large

and

donor

of the introduction

Significant

too little user orientation.

areas,

for price-

has not yet met its expectations.

which

produced

Insufficient

market

of people.

and

cases, despite

real

of the

60 wind

newsletter

need

[41 Omer,

impact

ing

pumps

for further

of credit

site selec-

for wind

on a larger

472,

end-

requirements.

promotion.

pump

as a mature

In some

about

as turbulence,

Insufficient

Lack

the diesel

of a different

and the interest

to exist

of

wind

oped.

the

of water.

knowledge

such

too high

.

that

optimization

users

tions

on

power

than

an

workshop

systems.

before year 2005. Thus

exchange

office,

of the contin-

investigation

more

group

own

long

Conclusion

Continuous

Lack

of

prospects

are good

suitable

is a problem

Problems

is considerable.

soon

from

be installed

bodies

a lot

use

presume

the

the side of end

regime

problems

introduc-

to the attitude

reduction

to cyclone.

requirements

tinuous

. . .

Farmers

are related

tions

The

the

part

(limited

brings

management

production

of wind

pumps).

is necessary.

in

of wind

restricted

Matching to farm

pump

also encourage in view

purchasing

people,

tional Sudan

installation

technology

ket is expected

knowledge

Insufficient

Price

wind

new

pumps

due to vari-

and

information,

in the safe areas

overall

as:

suit the customers

. .

of

order

users.

tion,

of spots

However,

are performing

problems

ous constraints

tion

for water

systems

to the

(6) To attain

of

more

receives

wind

in Sudan

amount

in Sudan.

policies.

most

rural

project

in the southern

and

became

pumps

economy

(5) According

could

country,

problems.

industry

it

improper

independence

for installing

and

of the local

support

appropriate

installed

pump

national

government

Though

that

in relation

on the dynamism

to

the war spread

pumps

of the application.

of a local

also depends

1956,

technol-

pumps

and

demand

related

the

of the

(technically

existing

Since

indus-

has access to a mature

of users

Socio-economic changes

market

requires

to capital

the prospects

enough

pump

however,

and

contribu-

should

powered

environmental

govern-

management.

raw

available

for a significant

to the cost. Thus,

Problems

and

manufacof

or adverse

manufacturers.

is

funds

Most

are not locally

makes

for emergence

and

policies. of access

problem

of

of locally

machines.

process

for wind

try

major

charge

ued use of fossil fuel powered

ment Lack

such as steel used in the manufac-

therefore tion

The

inadequate

the

to

energy

provision

wind

turing

wind

of

inadequate

tured

limitations

should

government

wind

technologies. Lacking,

They

for wind

supplied.

recession.

Availability

village

maintaining

and

pumps.

practices.

building

encourage

or set up cooperation

installing

match

infrastructure

should

cooperatives

Economic

to small communities.

ENERGY

of consideration

ecological

generators.

To carry

l

work

-

consider wind

intro-

machines

www.re-focusnet

NCMWE,

Abdeen PO.

Box

Mustafa 15007,

Omer, Khartoum,

Sudan.

37