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Opportunities and Challenges of Renewable Energy Production in Ethiopia

Author

Listed:
  • Girum Ayalneh Tiruye

    (Materials Science Program, Department of Chemistry, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, Ethiopia)

  • Abreham Tesfaye Besha

    (Department of Chemistry, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Jigjiga University, Jigjiga P.O. Box 1020, Ethiopia)

  • Yedilfana Setarge Mekonnen

    (Center for Environmental Science, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, Ethiopia)

  • Natei Ermias Benti

    (Center for Environmental Science, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, Ethiopia
    Current Address: Department of Physics, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita Sodo P.O. Box 138, Ethiopia.)

  • Gebrehiwet Abrham Gebreslase

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, Mekelle Institute of Technology-Mekelle University (MIT-MU), Mekelle P.O. Box. 1632, Ethiopia
    Instituto de Carboquímica, ICB-CSIC, C/Miguel Luesma Castán, 4, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain)

  • Ramato Ashu Tufa

    (Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, Building 310, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark)

Abstract

Ethiopia is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world despite immense challenges towards access to sustainable energy supplies and modern energy technologies. The country is undertaking great effort towards the development of renewable energy technologies and green legacy. However, the largest share of energy consumption (≈87%) in Ethiopia is dominated by traditional fuels (charcoal, fuel wood, dung cakes, and agricultural residues) which pose various health and environmental risks. The country has an enormous amount of renewable energy potentials (e.g., solar, hydro, wind and geothermal), but only 5% of its full hydropower potential is exploited and others are not fully harvested or not well developed to date. This review paper provides a comprehensive assessment on renewable energy availability, potential, opportunity, and challenges in Ethiopia. We believe the information provided in this review will enlighten the current and future prospects of renewable energy deployment in Ethiopia.

Suggested Citation

  • Girum Ayalneh Tiruye & Abreham Tesfaye Besha & Yedilfana Setarge Mekonnen & Natei Ermias Benti & Gebrehiwet Abrham Gebreslase & Ramato Ashu Tufa, 2021. "Opportunities and Challenges of Renewable Energy Production in Ethiopia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-25, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:18:p:10381-:d:637607
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Grace B. Villamor, 2023. "Gender and Water-Energy-Food Nexus in the Rural Highlands of Ethiopia: Where Are the Trade-Offs?," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-20, February.
    3. Selamawit Haftu Gebresellase & Zhiyong Wu & Huating Xu & Wada Idris Muhammad, 2023. "Scenario-Based LULC Dynamics Projection Using the CA–Markov Model on Upper Awash Basin (UAB), Ethiopia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-27, January.
    4. Natei Ermias Benti & Mesfin Diro Chaka & Addisu Gezahegn Semie, 2023. "Forecasting Renewable Energy Generation with Machine Learning and Deep Learning: Current Advances and Future Prospects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-33, April.
    5. Ejigu Tefera Habtemariam & Kula Kekeba & María Martínez-Ballesteros & Francisco Martínez-Álvarez, 2023. "A Bayesian Optimization-Based LSTM Model for Wind Power Forecasting in the Adama District, Ethiopia," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-22, February.

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