This project will also increase power supply by improving the generation capacity mix of the Ethiopian national grid system and reduce system losses, Green investor Global Trade Development and project developer Energy Ventures say. The energy policy of Ethiopia is to install more than 20,000MW by 2020, with a substantial part of that coming from a renewable energy.
Ethiopia reportedly has some of the highest solar irradiance factors in Africa.
“This project represents a significant advance in our Ethiopian energy initiative and is now part of our comprehensive Energy Plan,” said Minister Alemayehu Tegenu, minister of water, irrigation and energy. “Given Ethiopia's large hydro-electric generation capacity and now wind and geothermal power generation coming on-line, large scale solar fits nicely into our energy portfolio and will provide significant power generation capacity much faster than the other renewable technologies."