Renewable Energy Potential in Somalia

Total installed electricity capacity (2008): 65 MW

• Thermal : 93.3%
• Hydroelectric: 4.4%

Total primary energy supply (2008): 5,352 ktoe

• Biomass: 96%
• Oil and oil products: 3.98%
• Hydroelectric: 0.02%

Somalia has the lowest consumption of modern forms of energy in Sub-Saharan Africa. Somalia has long relied on fuel wood and charcoal, and imported petroleum to meet its energy needs. Firewood and charcoal are the major sources of energy, accounting for the vast majority of the country’s total energy consumption.

There are no large dams in Somalia, with diesel generators being the main source of energy.

Total electricity generation in 2008 was 326 GWh, with consumption being 293 GWh in the same year. Renewable sources contributed 15 GWh, or 4.4%, to this.

RELIANCE

Without proven oil reserves and only 200 billion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves, Somalia has no hydrocarbon production up to now. Exploration activity is hindered by the internal security situation and the multiple sovereignty issues. Somalia’s petroleum consumption was estimated at 5,000 bbl/day in 2010.

The country relies heavily on imported petroleum for production of electricity. The country had one oil refinery, constructed with the aid of Iraq, which ceased operation with the onset of war in 1991.

Oil imports estimated at 3,827 bbl/day (2008).

EXTEND NETWORK

Somalia is currently divided into three regions; Somaliland, Puntland and South and Central Somalia. The regions have separate electricity networks. In Puntland, electricity is mainly accessible to major towns like Bosaso.

In South and Central Somalia, 60% of households in Mogadishu and 23% of households in Merka have access to electricity for lighting. 95% of the poorest households in the country do not have access to electricity.

CAPACITY CONCERNS

Rural and urban energy needs are primarily wood and charcoal based, though there is an increasing use of oil-based energy in urban areas. With a growth in urbanization, combined with the return of the Somali Diaspora, energy demands will increase. The view is that as an imperative for economic growth and nation building, sustainable sources of energy will be needed, combined with more efficient use of existing energy sources. The destruction of electricity infrastructure during the long period of civil conflict, and the ensuing slow pace of rehabilitation of the national electricity grid, has led many in the country to utilise self-generation, mostly from diesel sources.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Somalia is rich in energy resources, having unexploited reserves of oil and natural gas, untapped hydropower, extensive geothermal energy resources, many promising wind sites, and abundant sunshine, which can produce solar power. The major obstacles to development of these potentially available energy resources are political, financial and institutional. Traditional biomass fuels such as firewood and charcoal, primarily used in rural and poor communities, account for 82% of the country’s total energy consumption.

Solar

Average insolation stands at 5-7 kWh/ m2/day. With over 3,000 hours of high and constant sunlight annually, Somalia is ideally placed to utilise solar energy. Solar resources have been utilised for off-grid generation in the country, as well as for water heating for municipal buildings. Solar cooking has also seen some uptake in the country, and solar power is seen as the energy source of choice for the rehabilitation of many municipal buildings in the country, particularly health centres.

Wind

Wind speeds vary from 3-11.4 m/s. Four 50 kW turbines were installed in Mogadishu in 1988, Wind energy has also been utilised for water pumping, with installations made by the UN Trusteeship Administration of Somalia from as early as the 1940s. The country has large areas of shallow sea along its coastline, particularly suitable for off-shore wind power, with the added benefit that this resource is close to a number of major load centres, including Mogadishu and Berbera. Studies estimate that approximately 50% of the land area of the country has suitable wind speeds for power generation and 95% could benefit, and profit, from replacing diesel-powered water pumps with wind systems.

Biomass

In 1985, wooded areas in Somalia were estimated to be about 39 million hectares – roughly 60% of Somalia’s land area. Due to overexploitation these figures have reduced significantly. In 2001, statistics indicate that the forest cover may have been as low as 10%. Solid and liquid biomass options in Somalia still hold a significant potential, however, primarily in the form of crop and animal wastes, and marine biomass. Sustainable charcoal production methods could also be used to great effect in the country, as current charcoal production is causing significant environmental impacts.

Geothermal