Background

Like many developing countries, Sudan has a shortage of electricity. Approximately 35% of the population has access to electricity. Even then, it is not reliable and experiences regular power outages. Hydro-power has the largest share of energy generation. The potential to expand hydro-power to meet future needs is limited. Sudan does not have significant oil or gas production and as a result will have to turn to importation of fossil fuels to meet future energy needs. Climate change threatens to affect rainfall patterns on which Sudan relies for the water that generates its hydro-power. This further emphasises the need for Sudan to diversify its energy sources. The wind energy project, which is a joint governemt/UNDP initiative and financially support by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), seeks to address these problems by promoting the generation of electric power from wind energy at autility scale in Sudan.

Sudan currently has a power generation capacity of 2,723 MW, has no wind generation capacity and no grid-connected solar capacity. Publicly-owned utilities own all of the power generation facilities, transmission and distribution lines in Sudan. The Government owns 5,984 km of 220 kV transmission lines and 965 km of 500 kV transmission lines. Approximately 35% of Sudan's population has access to electricity. In 2012, the power consumption per capita was 233 kWh/ year. There are no independent power producers (IPPs) in the country, though initiatives are underway to promote private investment in power generation. This project seeks to support those initiatives where they relate to wind power.

Sudan is seeking to effectively develop its renewable energy (RE) resources; however, one of the main barriers is the lack of a supporting legal and regulatory framework for RE power generation. Currently, a standard contract for renewable electricity generators does not exist and in this regard, assistance is being sought for the design of a toolkit for the development of renewable energy power purchase agreements and contracts.

The power sector has been unbundled into parastatal companies of Generation, transmission and distribution in an attempt to completely privatize the sector. Further, the country has embarked on a Wind Resource Assessment Program in a process to quantify the wind resource potential and identify possible locations for the installation of wind farms. Following this process, Wind Energy has been identified as potential renewable energy source considered for diversifying Sudan energy mix and increasing the renewable energy share in the country electric power generation capacity.

In this framework, the government of Sudan has taken the initiative to invest in grid connected power generation from wind energy and in support of this a GEF layer has been added to the project to partially investment gap in critical item and support in the regulatory frameworks and strengthening the wind power delivery system.

This assignment is intended to create technical capacity in the design and planning of wind energy farms in Sudan, thereby training technical project and key stakeholder staff on the analysis of wind data and the creation of wind energy map and integrate into a web based GIS system.

Duties and Responsibilities

UNDP is seeking the service of experienced individual International Consultant (IC) to deliver technical training on WASP software and shall be tasked with, but not limited to, the followings:

  • Prepare training manual/syllabus on WASP software to be approved by the project manager;
  • Advice the project on the minimum soft and hardware required for the purpose of training for up to 20 candidate;
  • Training should target candidates with minimum B.Sc level in engineering discipline;
  • Training should cover theoretical background on Wind Data as input required for the WASP;
  • Training should cover theoretical background and practical hands-on for the WASP by demonstrating through real working examples for wind data analysis and their statistical presentation for wind farm planning using WASP;
  • Advise the project and trainees on the hardware requirement, technicians’ certification on WASP in terms of technical knowhow and best administrative procedures to properly acquire the skills.

Competencies

  • Engaging and effective teaching and training skills;
  • Excellent technical, analytical and editing skills in English;
  • Excellent communication skills in English;
  • Strong strategic planning, results-based management and reporting capabilities;
  • Excellent team player with good interpersonal skills;
  • Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
  • Ability to accommodate additional demands at short notice;
  • Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Skills in achieving results through persuading, influencing, & working with others;
  • Skills in facilitating meetings effectively and efficiently and to resolve conflicts as they arise.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • M.Sc. in Engineering, metrology or other related technical discipline with 05 years’ experience Or B.Sc. with 10 year experience.

Experience:

  • At least 5 years of work experience as trainer and/or teaching WASP software in training institution and/or university collage.
  • Experience with WASP in wind farms design and planning is an advantage.
  • Work experience in Sudan is an asset.

Languages:

  • An excellent command of written and spoken English;
  • Knowledge of Arabic language is an advantage.