Aden Solar Plant Supplies Power to 170,000 Homes Amid Yemen Crisis

Yemen's first large-scale solar power plant, operational since July 2024 and funded by the United Arab Emirates, is significantly alleviating chronic electricity shortages in the southern city of Aden by supplying power to up to 170,000 homes daily. This 120-megawatt facility marks a pivotal shift toward renewable energy in Yemen, the Middle East's least electrified country, which has suffered nearly 30 years of power crises due to fuel shortages and war-damaged infrastructure. Local businesses, such as supermarkets, have benefited by avoiding losses caused by power outages that previously damaged goods. Solar energy accounted for just 10.4% of Yemen's electricity generation in 2023, but with plans to double the plant's capacity by 2026, the country aims to reduce reliance on costly diesel imports and improve living standards. The project highlights the potential for renewable energy to provide stability and sustainable development even in conflict-affected regions, although its long-term success depends on security and political stability. If expanded successfully, Aden could become a regional model for renewable energy adoption in fragile states.