In Sudan, residents are increasingly turning to solar power to cope with frequent blackouts caused by the ongoing conflict, though high costs prevent many from making the transition. Randa al-Mansour, a 31-year-old housewife in Omdurman, near Khartoum, has relied on solar panels installed on her building's rooftop for nearly a year to manage recurrent blackouts linked to the deteriorating electricity grid. She described the challenges of daily life under the circumstances, noting that children often return home from school without electricity and struggle to study in the heat. The conflict between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023 has killed at least 59,000 people, with aid groups suggesting the number may be higher, and displaced some 13 million. This conflict has strained an already weak power infrastructure, pushing many Sudanese to seek alternative energy sources, particularly during the summer heat. The United Nations Development Program has estimated the damage to the electricity grid at $3 billion. Al-Mansour, who supports her family with remittances from her husband working in Saudi Arabia, stated that while solar energy is a necessary adaptation, not everyone can afford this solution. In recent months, billboards advertising solar panels, batteries, and inverters have become more common in Khartoum as more residents consider transitioning to solar energy. Mohey Eddin Abu-Bark, owner of a solar systems business in Khartoum, noted that a typical 10-kilowatt solar system costs nearly $5,000, which is a significant sacrifice for low-income families. Manahel Madany, a 43-year-old diabetic civil servant, cannot afford the transition despite needing steady electricity for her fridge to store insulin. She described being forced to discard insulin stock every three to four days due to heat and power outages. Madany lives in a two-bedroom house with her mother and sister in Omdurman, and the three are forced to sleep in their house courtyard to escape the searing heat indoors. She noted that not all pharmacies can afford to install solar panels for medical storage, leading to a shortage of medications. Sudan has limitless potential to generate solar energy given the long hours of sunshine that often exceed 4,000 hours per year, according to the U.N. However, the high upfront cost of imported solar energy systems and a depreciating local currency derail the transition to clean energy. Electricity production has dropped significantly due to the conflict, and many skilled engineers have left the country, further straining the system. With power outages reaching up to 16 hours daily in some areas, the reliance on solar energy is growing, but it remains a privilege for those who can afford it.