ENERGY

Ethiopia Energy Strategies and Plans

Short term national plans are made every five years in Ethiopia. The current national plan is named the Second Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP2) and contains the energy plan for 2015 - 2020. The plan for the power sub sector and for the alternative energy sub sector is shown below.

A. Power Sector Plan

B. Alternative Energy Plan

ENERGY RESOURCES

Ethiopia is rich in renewable energy resources including hydro power, geothermal, wind and solar energy. Its hydro power resource is 159TWh/year (30-45GW), its geothermal potential is 5000MWe, and it has high wind and solar energy resources as shown in the following figures.

Hydro Power

Ethiopia has a large hydro power resource estimated at 159TWh/year (30-45GW generation capability). 50% of this resource is from just one river basin (the Abay or Blue Nile basin).

At present only 5% of the total resource is exploited.

Hydro Power Resources of Ethiopia International Water Management Institute (IWMI), 2007.

Water Resources and Irrigation Development in Ethiopia

Geothermal

Geothermal energy in Africa is concentrated in the Great Rift Valley area crossing the continent from the east from Djibouti through Ethiopia and Kenya to Mozambique. In Ethiopia geothermal resources are scattered over a wide area (150,000km2) stretching from northeast to the southwest. The total geothermal power potential in Ethiopia is estimated at 5000MWe, from which only 7MWe is currently developed.

The map below shows the Location of geothermal prospects in Ethiopia.

For further information see: http://www.gse.gov.et/index.php/geothermal

Wind Power

Wind power is becoming an important source of power generation in the Ethiopian power system after hydro power. A total of 171MW of wind power is in operation today in Ethiopia with plans to add up to 1000MW in the next five years. For further information see:

http://irena.masdar.ac.ae/?map=312

The figure below shows the distribution of average wind speed (m/s, 50m)

Ministry of Water and Energy, 2011 Resource Assessment Report for Wind and Solar Energy

The figure below shows the distribution of wind power density (W/m2, 50m)

Ministry of Water and Energy, 2011 Resource Assessment Report for Wind and Solar Energy

Solar Energy

Solar energy is currently widely used for off-grid rural electrification in Ethiopia through solar home systems, institutional systems (such as for health clinics, schools and water pumping). There are plans for large scale solar (photovoltaic) system installation for grid applications in the current power system expansion plan (300MW).

Annual total solar radiation (kWh/year/m2)

Ministry of Water and Energy, 2011 Resource Assessment Report for Wind and Solar Energy

Energy supply

Electricity

The main electricity producer and supplier in Ethiopia is the state. The two state companies, the Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) and the Ethiopian Electricity Utility (EEU) are responsible for power production and transmission and for power distribution and sale respectively. Electricity sales from the state utilities now stand at about 6,000GWh.

Electricity sales, GWh

Petroleum

Ethiopia does not produce oil or gas and all petroleum products are imported. Petroleum fuels are principally used in the transport sector.

Petroleum import, Tons

useful energy information

Ethiopian energy Institutions

Energy policies and regulations

The Ethiopian Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Electricity (MOWIE) is the national body responsible for the energy sector in Ethiopia. MOWIE and Agencies under it are responsible for energy policy, regulation, renewable energy RDD, power generation and distribution. Brief descriptions of the roles of energy institutions under MOWIE are provided below.

Energy Study and Development Follow-up Directorate is the unit responsible for national energy policy and strategy development and for coordination of national energy plans. In the past five years the Directorate has updated the national energy policy, led the assessment of wind and solar energy resources at the national level, and developed a national energy database for Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian Energy Agency, www.eea.gov.et

The Alternative Energy Technology Directorate, www.ref.gov.et

The Ethiopian Electric Power or EEP, www.eep.gov.et

The Ethiopian Electric Utility or EEU, www.eeu.gov.et

The National Energy Policy of Ethiopia was revised in 2012 to align with current global, national and sector wide realities.

In particular the revision needed to be due to changes in the national economy and therefore changing energy needs; new international priorities such as climate change mitigation and adaptation; new opportunities such as regional power interconnections; and new national development agendas such as technology localization.

The main energy policy goal is to ensure the availability, accessibility, affordability, safety and reliability of energy services to support accelerated and sustainable social and economic development and transformation of the country. The policy seeks to meet the following objectives:

1. Improve the security and reliability of energy supply and be a regional hub for renewable energy.

2. Increase access to affordable modern energy.

3. Promote efficient, cleaner, and appropriate energy technologies and conservation measure.

4. Strengthen energy sector governance and build strong energy institution.

5. Ensure environmental and social safety and sustainability of energy supply and utilization.

6. Strengthen Energy Sector Financing.