Yemen Photovoltaic Container Substation

Why is distributed solar PV important in Yemen?

As most of the population in Yemen live in rural areas and are geographically dispersed, it is costly to connect them to the main grid, making distributed solar PV solutions a critical part of any electrification strategy in Yemen. Figure 1 shows the photovoltaic power potential in Yemen. Figure 1: Photovoltaic (PV) Power Potential

Does Yemen have solar energy?

Yemen is a sunbelt country with one of the highest levels of solar irradiation and an annual daily sunshine exceeding eight hours. This means that the different solar energy technologies for heating (e.g., Solar Water Heaters (SWHs)) and for electricity production (e.g., solar photovoltaic (PV)) have considerable potential in Yemen.

Can the private sector scale up solar power generation in Yemen?

As evident in the previous section, the private sector can play a critical role in scaling up solar power generation in Yemen, especially in the utility-scale and mini-grids sectors.

Who owns a solar power plant in Yemen?

They can be owned and operated by the government (or its public utility), or by a private sector company via a Power Purchase Agreement that typically lasts between 5 and 20 years. In Yemen, there are currently no utility-scale solar power plants in existence.

Could the IFC invest in solar power in Yemen?

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is currently evaluating possible investments in this sector in Yemen, which could potentially improve the prospects of launching the first private sector investment in utility-scale solar power under a BOOT model. SCALING UP SOLAR ENERGY INVESTMENTS IN YEMEN

Why is the solar market threatening the sustainability of Yemen?

Combined with weak technical knowledge and capacity in the market and poor after-sale services, this vicious cycle has been threatening the sustainability of the stand-alone solar market in Yemen as consumers increasingly lose trust in solar- based systems and solutions after having negative experiences.