Africa, as one of the fastest-growing continents in the world, faces a massive challenge related to energy generations in the coming years. Studies indicated that by the year 2030, more than 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa will live without access to reliable electricity, and the rest largely depend on traditional energy sources which negatively affects the climate.
Similarly, Ethiopia is one of the fastest-growing nations while access to modern energy supplies is one of the lowest in the world. The successive governments of Ethiopia have been taking renewable energy initiatives and efforts to respond to the ever-increasing demand for electricity in the country.
Although efforts are underway to combat climate change effects in Ethiopia, biomass is the primary energy supply of the country. This traditional biomass (wood, charcoal, dung) in households accounts for roughly 90 percent of total primary energy use in Ethiopia; about 84 percent and 99 percent of urban and rural households, respectively, rely on biomass as their primary cooking fuel. This, in turn, affects the green legacy initiatives, especially the afforestation efforts of the country.
Taking the green legacy initiatives, and efforts of constructing a dam across the country into consideration, it is important to develop and utilize the energy resources of the country. Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) Management Board Chairman Dr. Abraham Belay, Ethiopia should advance and utilize the energy sources of the country since the country’s energy need is growing at an annual rate of 13 percent.
Regardless of the development and wealth of the nation, mitigating climate change through renewable energy is imperative. Because climate change negatively rising unemployment rates, inflation, trade imbalance, and falling real wages play a role too. Each of these factors can negatively affect the GDP of a nation, leading to a loss of revenue for businesses, enterprises, and so on.
A senior environmental expert from the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Linus Mofor, once said that “African economies are losing on average 5 percent of GDP because of climate change, increasing up to 15 percent in some countries.”
Cognizant of this, it is advisable to give due attention to using the country’s resources. Among the abundant energy resources that the country has solar energy is worth mentioning. However, these ample energy sources are largely unexploited.
From the abundant solar energy resources of the country, Ethiopia has been using only about 14 MW of solar PV for telecom service, lighting, powering water pumps in rural areas, and water heating in major cities. Currently, Ethiopia is getting solar energy in some parts of the country Adama, Mekele, Humera, and so on. In addition to this, the country has intended to construct solar power plants in the country.
This is because, for rural households that need low electricity consumption, off-grid solar solutions should be prioritized by the government as an immediate solution for un-electrified rural households that are far from the electric grid and not covered by the densification program in the short term.
State Minister of Water and Energy Dr. Sultan Woliy said various activities have been done to utilize the solar energy potential of the country. This would help to provide significant energy access to all its citizens by 2030.
Increasing the use of solar energy technology offers ways for the provision of drinking water supply and irrigated agriculture since the solar panels can be placed on the roofs of buildings and in any convenient place. Solar resource utilization, apart from fulfilling the need for access to power, will help to achieve sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 7 and 13, he indicated.
Various studies have indeed shown that the solar energy resources of the country (2.199 million TWh/ annum) have so far not been touched. The diversity and the natural basis of the country’s renewable energy resources provide Ethiopia with the comparative advantage of access to cheaper, clean, and sustained energy sources.
Arba Minch University Research and Community Services Vice President Associate Professor Behaylu Meridekyos said that the solar energy production of various projects has enabled the rural health centers and schools to access electricity.
Generating solar energy, along with giving university community service, has been also playing an imperative role in preventing maternal and child mortality and providing quality education to students. Accessibility of solar energy has improved service delivery and customer satisfaction of the beneficiaries as well as increased motivation, commitment, and longevity of the staff in the organizations, he added.
However, solar energy has benefited the communities where it is generated but still, there are challenges in expanding the solar energy and its technology. More specifically, weak communication and relations among stakeholders, lack of support, absence of bulk solar technology production and production sustainability, shortage of resources, and so on have been challenging the solar energy production in the country.
Girum Ayalneh et al. (2021) Academic work entitled “Opportunities and Challenges of Renewable Energy Production in Ethiopia” stated that Ethiopia is one of the energy-deficient countries in the world. The country is endowed with numerous potential sources of renewable energy. Nevertheless, it has not fully exploited potential of renewable energy up to 45,000 MW from hydropower, 10,000 MW from wind, 5000 MW from geothermal, and an average of 5.26 kWh per square meter per day from solar energy. Except for biomass fuel, most of the presented energy source is either untapped or not fully developed.
Minister of Water and Energy Dr. Habtamu Itefa said that Ethiopia has made various efforts and agreements to solve the challenges and raise the level of the energy sector. Especially, by tapping or fully developing the solar energy of the country, Ethiopia will provide electricity to all citizens by 2030.
Besides, “we will make the energy supply fully accessible in the next 10 years by improving the energy consumption gap and eliminating waste.” With the support of research, we will continue to work to ensure energy consumption at the household level”, he added.
Indeed, utilizing the energy sector properly is crucial to standing firmly the effect of urbanization and climate change. Ethiopia is one of the fast-urbanizing countries in the world and the living standard of its citizen has also a profound transformation year to year. Urbanization requires better energy for the quality of life and to boost economic growth. If it is not properly managed, it dramatically increases the energy consumption which leads to the energy crisis.
Therefore, Ethiopia should utilize solar energy sources since the country has huge solar energy potential from the sun that lights its highlands. If taken advantage of, they can help build a sustainable tomorrow.
BY EPHREM ANDARGACHEW
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 10 APRIL 2022
