A new hybrid solar project has come to life in Torit, South Sudan, with the launch, last Thursday, of a newly built Green Energy Power Station at the base of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

An enthusiastic crowd of onlookers gathered at the station to witness UNMISS Director of Mission Support, Ms. Stephani Scheer, ceremonially cut the ribbon to officially inaugurate the project – the first of its kind in the UN peacekeeping mission.

“This is the first solar project of its kind in UNMISS. It will serve as a model for the other field offices, so that we can capitalize on natural resources for energy consumption,” said Ms. Scheer, noting that the power system will enable the Mission to capitalize on the use of renewable energy.

The project is part of the United Nations’ efforts to “green the blue” by relying more on renewable energy sources, decreasing the environmental impact of the mission’s operations, and becoming more sustainable.

“This new solar project will minimize the consumption of fuel-generated energy,” explained Samuel Gebreselassie, the UNMISS Torit Telecommunications Technician who worked on the implementation of the project, adding, “The transition to renewable energy will significantly reduce UNMISS’ impact on the local environment.”

UNMISS Field Office Torit started working on the project in April of this year, which included the construction of a green power house, the installation of solar panels and batteries, and the wiring and configuration of the system.

The system is comprised of 72 solar panels and 48 solar-charged batteries that generate 12 kilowatts of energy – enough to provide alternative power to run the transmissions of the telecommunication equipment and the Radio Miraya transmitter in Torit.

The new Green Energy Power House is the first solar power installation of its kind in the mission. It is simultaneously capable of supplying power to equipment while concurrently charging the batteries.

UNMISS will also extend the hybrid solar project to field Offices in Malakal, Bor, Wau, Rumbek, Bentiu, Warrap, and Juba.