Ethiopia is endowed with abundant renewable energy sources such as surface and underground water, wind, solar, geothermal and natural gas. However, due to lack of sufficient capital, technology and well trained manpower, exploitation of the resources is not full-fledged.
Due to the absence of supply of modern energy in the rural parts of the country, high number of population is forced to use biomass energy by clearing forests which again aggravates land degradation, soil erosion and destroying habitats.
The in-house pollution due to utilizing biomass energy in rural parts is responsible to posing health risks and contributes to high child mortality rate. Ethiopia began cultivating its energy sources since 1940s by constructing hydro-power dams for electric power generation and in the last three decades various hydropower dams have been constructed. Among others are Tekeze, Gilgel-gibe I-III (the fourth one is under construction), Tana Beles, Genale and the Abbay Dam which is eying its completion soon.
The other energy source under utilization is wind farm. Wind farms are constructed in Adama, Mekele and Asela and the generated power is poured to the national grid. The developing of power from solar is also expanded in various parts of the country.
Currently, many private local and foreign companies are engaged in distributing solar panels. In the rural parts, solar energy is used in schools, clinics and at household level for different purposes like light and charging mobile phones. Students also can study their lessons at night in their home.
Ethiopia has abundant geothermal energy potential in its rift valley region particularly in Afar but because of it is a big-ticket project; the resource could not be exploited significantly yet. However, as part of the development of renewable energy sources in the Aluto-Langano almost 25 kilometer away from Batu town in Oromia region the development of geothermal is undergoing for the last decade and a half. Foreign companies from the US and the Iceland have invested millions of Dollars for exploiting the resource.
Ethiopia should exploit its renewable energy sources not only for meeting its energy demand but also to attain the goal for developing green economy.
As it is understood, the nation’s economic mainstay is agriculture which is climate sensitive. Currently, the sector has been critically affected from the brunt of climate change and global warming. Therefore, to withstand the impact of climate change, the government is implementing adaptation and mitigation mechanisms. Ethiopia is also signal to the convention of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). By 2022, the UNFCCC had 198 parties and is the part of the 2015 Paris Agreement. It stipulates the member states to pursue clean energy development.
To implement adaptation program for the last 20 years, billions of seedlings have been planted annually. The water shade management and terracing farm lands located in slop areas to protect from soil erosion is carried out. The current green legacy initiative introduced by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) which is characterized by planting billions of seedlings annually is part of the mechanism. In line with tree planting, expanding agro forestry helps the nation’s aspiration to ensure food security. Fruits such as avocado, papaya, and banana are planted and harvested and supplied to the market.
There are also other forms of adaptation mechanism and among others expanding irrigation farm is one of it. It uses surface and underground water and such practice reduces the agriculture dependency on rain which is vulnerable to global warming.
Supplying generator and providing extension service to farmers also can be mentioned as part of adaptation mechanism. Supporting of farmers who lost their crops due to drought or flood through weather index system supported by the World Bank is part of the mechanism. To obtain the financial support, farmers should be members of the credit associations in their local areas beforehand and save money.
When they face crop failure due to drought, it will be proved whether it is hit by drought or not via gathering information from satellite through scientific device and agronomists will visit the affected farm. Following the approval of the agronomists, the farmers can obtain the money which is subsidized by the World Bank.
Mitigation mechanism is a transition from utilizing carbon based energy sources to renewable energy sources which are mentioned above. The carbon based energy which is imported from abroad such as benzene, gasoline and others have hazardous effect on the environment and contribute to the global warming.
Currently, Ethiopia spends billions of Dollars annually to import the carbon based energy sources and for the poor country which suffers from the crunch of foreign currency, it is unaffordable. Hence, on top of supporting the development of green economy, replacing carbon based energy by the renewable energy saves the meager resource which is allotted for the importation of carbon based energy.
Utilization of electrified rail transportation from Addis Ababa to Djibouti and the light rail way in the Capital City can be a showcase for the transition from carbon based energy in to renewable energy sources.
As mentioned above, majority of the population which reside in the rural part of the country use biomass energy by clearing forests which disrupt the very objective of green legacy initiative. According to environment scientists, cutting trees, in addition to posing soil erosion and land degradation, it emits carbon to the environment which in turn aggravates global warming. In fact, Ethiopia’s and other developing countries’ contribution for the global warming is negligible as compared to the economically advanced countries. However, not to repeat the rich countries’ past mistake, they embarked on the journey for the development of green economy and all their economic activities should not compromise their aspiration for clean energy development.
Therefore, heightening supply of modern energy sources to the rural part of the country is essential. Indeed, the fragmented settlement of the people makes the stretching of electric line very expensive but to attain the goal, continuing electrification program in the rural towns where more than two thousand residents reside is an optimal option.
Side by side with these efforts, providing energy saving stoves to the rural community has been taken as a way out. Various private companies also engaged in distributing the stove. Using the stoves reduces the rate of farmers cutting trees and clearing vegetation cover. In addition, various projects working in distributing stoves could create job opportunities to thousands.
Developing renewable energy also can serve as boosting the nation’s foreign currency earning and reserving capacity. So far, Ethiopia exports electric power to Sudan and Djibouti and could earn handsome amount of hard currency. Stretching hydroelectric power wire to Kenya is also completed and sooner exporting power will be started.
The completion of the Abbay Dam is expected to enhance the nation’s hard currency garnering capacity. Cognizant of the value of exploiting renewable Energy, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Finance and the United Arab Emirates’ AMEA Power agreed to build the Horn of Africa’s largest 300 MW onshore wind power project, which represents a significant milestone in the country’s renewable energy sector.
The Minister of Finance of Ethiopia, Ahmed Shide, announced the signing of a landmark agreement with AMEA Power for the construction of the Aysha Wind Power Project. The project is poised to become the largest wind energy project in the Horn of Africa after investing 600 million USD.
An expansive 18,000-hectare wind farm located in Ethiopia’s Horn of Africa region, the Aysha Wind Power Project represents a significant milestone in the country’s renewable energy sector. AMEA Power’s extensive experience in developing large-scale renewable energy projects makes it a great partner for this venture.
The Ministry of Finance said in a joint press release that the agreement demonstrates the Ethiopian government’s unwavering commitment to renewable energy and dedication to attracting private investment in the energy sector. Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) and the Ministry of Finance are working together to harness the region’s abundant wind resources and generate clean, sustainable electricity to meet Ethiopia’s growing demand for energy.
The Aysha Wind Power Project is projected to produce approximately 1.22 Tera-Wh of electricity annually, significantly contributing to Ethiopia’s power generation capacity. Furthermore, approximately 2,000 jobs are expected to be created during the construction and operations phases, benefiting the local economy.
Ethiopia’s Minister of Finance, Ahmed Shide said, “The Aysha wind power project will be implemented with strong government-to-government support by AMEA Power, prominent private sector player.”
Abebe Gebrehiwot, the Frame Work Management and Contract Support Directorate at the Ministry of Finance, stated for his part; “This project represents a major stride in our journey towards increasing clean energy, production, providing sustainable electricity to our people, and driving economic growth and job creation in the region.”
The signing of this agreement with AMEA Power marks a significant milestone, the ministry said. It demonstrates the Ministry of Finance’s determination to attract private investments in the energy sector and increase the share of renewable e energy in Ethiopia’s power mix.
BY ABEBE WOLDEGIORGIS
The Ethiopian Herald December 7/2023
