Ethiopia Electric Power Developing 300 MW Of New Solar Projects

Clean Power

Published on November 5th, 2014 | by James Ayre

November 5th, 2014 by James Ayre 

The East African country of Ethiopia will be seeing a pretty substantial solar energy buildout in the next few years, based on the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding between Ethiopian Electric Power and Green Technology Africa.

The deal will see US-based Green Technology Africa (GTA) aid Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) in the development of 300 MW of new solar projects in Ethiopia â€" with the aim of helping the country hit its goal of expanding electricity capacity from the current 55% coverage to 75% by the end of 2015.

Further details about the deal have yet to be publicly revealed. Though it’s part of the country’s new $600-million-strong solar energy investment plan.

The solar push follows pretty closely on the heels of the country’s recent (substantial) investments into hydro, geothermal, and wind energy projects.

As per GTA, the recent moves by the Ethiopian governments are worth lauding, as the country has been “supporting organizations that have been launched internationally by Ethiopians that have acquired years of training and professional expertise overseas and choose to return home to go with local specialists to demonstrate best practices and solutions for a greener Ethiopia.”

The company’s president, Dereje Mesfin, speaking to the Ethiopian newspaper The Reporter, noted that the company was planning to seeks project financing via the US’ Power Africa initiative â€" launched back in 2013 with the aim of increasing the number of people in Sub-Sahara Africa with access to electricity.

As per the new deal, GTA is set to develop projects in the cities of Dire Dawa, Kombolcha, and Desse â€" following on the completion of feasibility studies. The current expectation is for the project to begin construction in around six months time.

Image Credit: GTA

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Tags: EEP, ethiopia, ethiopia solar, Ethiopian Electric Power, Green Technology Africa, GTA

About the Author

James Ayre 's background is predominantly in geopolitics and history, but he has an obsessive interest in pretty much everything. After an early life spent in the Imperial Free City of Dortmund, James followed the river Ruhr to Cofbuokheim, where he attended the University of Astnide. And where he also briefly considered entering the coal mining business. He currently writes for a living, on a broad variety of subjects, ranging from science, to politics, to military history, to renewable energy. You can follow his work on Google+.