Does North Korea still use solar power?

In this installment of our series on North Korea’s energy sector, we move away from official and commercial uses of solar and seek to understand the growing use of solar power for personal energy consumption in a country where its people still suffer from an unreliable power supply nationwide.

Where is solar installed in North Korea?

Today, solar can be found on some of North Korea’s most important or high-profile civilian factories, outlined below. The factories were chosen for the size of the installation and their notability, usually though consistent mentions in state media reporting.

Can solar power solve North Korea's energy problems?

Jeong-hyeon, a North Korean escapee, told the Financial Times that many residents in Hamhung, the second-most populous city, “relied on a solar panel, a battery and a power generator to light their houses and power their television”. But solar power is still only a partial solution to the country’s energy woes.

How many solar panels are there in North Korea?

The Korea Energy Economics Institute in Seoul estimates that 2.88mn solar panels, mostly small units used to power electronic devices and LED lamps, are now in use across North Korea, accounting for an estimated 7 per cent of household power demand.

How much do solar panels cost in North Korea?

This has allowed many North Koreans to install small solar panels costing as little as $15-$50, bypassing the state electricity grid that routinely leaves them without reliable power for months. Larger solar installations have also sprung up at factories and government buildings over the past decade.

Where are the largest solar panels installed in Pyongyang?

The Ryuwon Shoe Factory (류원신발공장) has one of the largest solar installations in Pyongyang. Across the roofs of every building on site are a total of 1,260 solar panels. The panels were installed in July 2016 in association with researchers from the Natural Energy Research Institute at the State Academy of Sciences.