Ongoing projects in Africa

Ethiopian ambitions
Given the government’s eagerness to develop the country’s hydro potential, it is perhaps surprising that Ethiopia is the biggest wind power producer in sub-Saharan Africa. The 120 MW Ashegoda wind farm was completed at a cost of €210m in November just outside Addis Ababa by French firm Vergnet SA with low interest loans from AfD and BNP Paribas, plus a 9% contribution from the government of Ethiopia. Its 84 turbines are expected to produce an average of 400 GWh a year.

Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said “Various studies have proved that there is potential to harness abundant wind energy resources in every region of Ethiopia. We cannot maintain growth without utilising the energy sector.”

Mihret Debebe, chief executive of the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation, added: “It complements hydropower, which is seasonal. When you have a dry water season we have higher wind speed. There is harmony between the two sources of energy.”

It would be fair to say that the government is banking on power sector development to drive economic growth over the next decade. A combination of rapidly growing generating capacity and a massive rural electrification programme should provide power to a far greater proportion of rural inhabitants, as well as generating significant export revenues from supplying neighbouring states.

Long-term power purchase agreements with other countries in the region should also encourage more general trade in a region where most states continue to trade more with the rest of the world than with each other. Addis Ababa has pledged to ensure that further solar and wind power projects are developed. The proportion of the population with access to electricity has already risen to 23% and the government hopes to boost this to 75% over the next decade. The remaining 25% include many people living in more remote parts of the country, where off-grid solar PV could be the most appropriate option.