The world’s newest country is now home to an innovative sustainable farming project powered by minigrids.
South Sudan, which earned its independence from Sudan in 2011, has a population of about 12 million people, most of whom live in rural areas. Thanks to ongoing civil unrest and the impacts of climate change, Unicef reports that hunger and malnutrition are common across the country, with upwards of two-thirds of the population facing food insecurity this year.
To combat this hunger crisis, Seeding Mercy International (SMI) has partnered with Sunnova Energy International to give rural communities the tools they need to feed themselves, including minigrid technology to power off-grid irrigation systems.
Tools, education and opportunity
Established in 2017, SMI was granted 10,000 acres of land from the South Sudanese government to create what the nonprofit calls a “renewable and agricultural ‘micro democracy’” in the country.
SMI plans to develop the land into 5,000 two-acre farms.
To date, SMI has recruited 1,000 client farmers across five villages, providing them with the land, as well as the training and the tools necessary to manage the farms sustainably. Ninety percent of SMI’s client farmers are women.
One of the tools provided to the farmers is solar minigrid technology from Sunnova, which is being used to power off-grid irrigation systems at three newly established farms in Aweil, South Sudan.
Minigrids, which are sometimes referred to as remote microgrids, are typically used in remote areas that do not have access to a central grid.
Sunnova, a U.S.-based energy-as-a-service provider, donated portable solar systems and irrigation pumps. The company’s microgrid team designed the minigrid systems specifically for lowland and highland crop irrigation, as well as portability, durability and independence for the farmers.
“We worked with SMI to simulate, plan and execute a replicable farming program from site selection, planting, irrigating, harvesting to replanting,” said Adam Miller, vice president of microgrids for Sunnova.
A “feed-forward” business model
“This collaboration goes beyond merely providing solar solutions; it strives to empower the community itself,” said Aken Tong, chief executive officer of SMI.
SMI utilizes what it calls a “feed-forward” business model. In exchange for the land, tools and training, the farmers share a portion of their profits with the organization. Those funds are then reinvested to expand the program into other communities.
Since December 2022, the three farms have planted, harvested and sold 370 baskets of crops, earning US$24,000 of income. Crops include onions, okra, kale, kusamawiki and kudhura.
Because of the high demand for food in the area, minimal crop storage and transportation is required.
“By joining forces, Sunnova and SMI are spearheading a movement towards sustainable and decentralized energy resources, fostering the growth of new enterprises and improving people’s lives,” said John Berger, CEO of Sunnova.
Minigrids enable sustainable farming practices and more
The solar-powered irrigation systems, which were installed by SMI, displaced what would have otherwise been diesel generators.
“By harnessing clean and renewable energy, we have reduced our dependency on scarcely available fossil fuels and have also ensured sustainable irrigation practices, even in remote regions — the first of its kind to be deployed in South Sudan," Tong said.
One day, SMI hopes to integrate microgrids into the system, which would enable the farmers to use excess energy from the solar minigrids to power crop storage and cooling facilities as well as fulfill other community needs around education and health.
The SMI and Sunnova collaboration in South Sudan isn’t the only minigrid project in Africa. The Distributed Renewable Energy – Agriculture Modalities, or DREAM initiative, is using minigrids to power irrigation systems in Ethiopia, while Husk Power is also deploying community minigrids in rural sub-Saharan Africa.
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