How much does a solar system cost in Yemen?

Rassam paid about 50 million Yemeni rials (around $90,000 based on the unofficial market exchange rate) for his system, which is considered large by local standards. The average cost of an array is around $10,000. Rassam financed the solar panels with a loan from Al Kuraimi Islamic Bank, one of the country’s largest private lenders.

Why do Yemeni people need solar energy?

The collapse of electricity in Yemen and the absence of service due to the turmoil of war pushed Yemeni people to look for another alternative. They found that in the solar energy which their country enjoys throughout the year. With this alternative, they even reached areas that did not enjoy electricity before.

Why are people moving to solar power in Yemen?

The migration to solar power is part of what researchers say is an energy revolution in the country of 28 million, where the electric grid has been decimated by fighting. More than 50 percent of Yemeni households rely on the sun as their main source of energy, and solar arrays power everything from shops to schools to hospitals.

Can Yemeni families get electricity from solar energy?

But in recent years, they finally got electricity through the solar energy that most Yemeni families, especially in the north, center, and west of the country, depend on now. It’s an experiment imposed by the tough circumstances, and is considered a positive phenomenon.

Can solar power save Yemeni rials?

Farmer Mohamed Ahmad Sid El Rassam can attest to those benefits. He built a solar-powered water pump on his land in the region of Beni Hocheich. The setup chopped his diesel use by more than 85 percent, saving him 17 million Yemeni rials ($68,000) a year.

Is solar power a lifeline in Yemen?

“For many in Yemen, especially for farmers, solar power has been a lifeline,” says Matt Leonard, who specializes in microfinance with IFC. “The key now is to scale up its use.” Yemen has long been the poorest country in the Middle East and North Africa, but a conflict that broke out in 2014 has pushed the country to the brink.