Earth, wind and water: Ethiopia bids to be Africa’s powerhouse

Oliver Joy for CNN
Published 6:46 AM EST, Fri November 8, 2013
Last month Ethiopia opened The Ashegoda Wind Farm -- one of the continent's largest -- in a bid to boost its generating capacity over the next three to five years.
The Ashegoda Wind Farm —
Last month Ethiopia opened The Ashegoda Wind Farm -- one of the continent's largest -- in a bid to boost its generating capacity over the next three to five years.
courtesy Vergnet
Just 23% of Ethiopia's 90 million people have access to electricity. The wind farm is expected to generate power throughout the year, except during the rainy season between June and September.
The Ashegoda Wind Farm —
Just 23% of Ethiopia's 90 million people have access to electricity. The wind farm is expected to generate power throughout the year, except during the rainy season between June and September.
courtesy Vergnet
French company Vergnet built the site in partnership with the Ethiopian government. "Vergnet machines are ideal for remote areas in Ethiopia and designed for this kind of region because our turbines are easy to transport," said chief executive Jerome Douat.
The Ashegoda Wind Farm —
French company Vergnet built the site in partnership with the Ethiopian government. "Vergnet machines are ideal for remote areas in Ethiopia and designed for this kind of region because our turbines are easy to transport," said chief executive Jerome Douat.
courtesy Vergnet
The wind farm, with a capacity of 120 MW, is located near the northern city of Mek'ele and sits next to the Great Rift Valley, which runs through the country.
The Ashegoda Wind Farm —
The wind farm, with a capacity of 120 MW, is located near the northern city of Mek'ele and sits next to the Great Rift Valley, which runs through the country.
courtesy Vergnet
Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam could generate 6,000 MW of electricity when complete.
Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam —
Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam could generate 6,000 MW of electricity when complete.
William Lloyd-George/AFP/Getty Images
The dam, on the Blue Nile river, is scheduled for completion by July 2017. At a cost of $4.7 billion, the dam will create 12,000 jobs, according to the government.
Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam —
The dam, on the Blue Nile river, is scheduled for completion by July 2017. At a cost of $4.7 billion, the dam will create 12,000 jobs, according to the government.
CNN
Earth, wind and water: Ethiopia bids to be Africa's powerhouse

Story highlights

Ethiopia is launching numerous renewable energy projects

Ashegoda Wind Farm will be one of continent's biggest

Grand Renaissance Dam could generate 6,000 MW of electricity

Ethiopia plans to export energy to neighboring countries

CNN  — 

Ethiopia is turning to renewable energy technology as the East African country looks to become a powerhouse for its regional partners.

Last month, Ethiopia launched one of the continent’s largest wind farms in a bid to rapidly boost its generating capacity over the next three to five years.

The Ashegoda Wind Farm and the Grand Renaissance Dam, under construction on the Nile, are just two of the major projects outlined in the Ethiopian government’s five-year Growth and Transformation Plan.

Both developments will see Ethiopia’s transition into one of the regions biggest energy exporters as electric output surges from 2,000 megawatts (MW) to 10,000 MW. More than half of this is expected to come from the Renaissance Dam.

Read more: Africa’s giant infrastructure projects

And with further commitments to geothermal power and potential for oil exploration, Ethiopia’s energy resources are set to be among the most diversified in Africa.

Ashegoda wind farm

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