Off-grid, solar-powered, irrigation pumps installed in South Sudan

The strategic collaboration sees the energy company Sunnova partner with the not-for-profit SMI to address the hunger crisis in East Africa and pave the way for sustainable and renewable development in the region.

The deployment of solar power for irrigation purposes is for Aweil, South Sudan.

Utilising a 'feed-forward' model that contracts with local farmers, SMI provides them land, tools and training in return for a fair share of the profits to replicate and reinvest the same model in other communities.

Sunnova’s philanthropic contribution includes portable solar systems, pumps, farming tools and transportation, while SMI has installed a solar-powered off-grid irrigation system to support three newly established farms.

Technical expertise from Sunnova’s Microgrid Development team was applied to ensure the solar-powered AC systems were sized for the pumps and could perform off-grid in lowland and highland terrains.

As an existing initiative, since December 2022, these farms have planted, harvested, and brought to market 370 baskets of crops that include onions, okra, kale, kusamawiki, and kudhura, which has resulted in US$24,000 of income to these farmers.

Through the project, SMI employs 591 families, including individuals seeking refuge from the war in Sudan.

William J. (John) Berger, Chief Executive Officer of Sunnova says, 'By joining forces, Sunnova and SMI are spearheading a movement towards sustainable and decentralised energy resources, fostering the growth of new enterprises and improving people’s lives'.