Solar energy storage in Ethiopia

It also found that the main applications of solar energy in Ethiopia are dominated by telecommunications, water pumping, public lighting, agriculture, water heating, and grain drying.}, year = {2023} AB - Ethiopia is endowed with abundant solar renewable energy resources, which can meet the ambitions of nationwide electrification.

However, despite all its available potential, the country's energy sector especially solar energy is still in its infancy stage. The main objective of this systematic review is to identify the present status of solar energy utilization and development in Ethiopia and any possible challenges that may hinder its' utilization and development.

But our previous study identified that the policy makers in Ethiopia believe that solar is too costly and not a viable option . The current electricity tariff in Ethiopia is highly subsidized and one of the lowest in Africa. The tariff depends on the monthly energy consumption and varies among user classification.

Another recent study in Nigeria analyzed the technical and economic performance of an 80 kW solar PV grid connected system (contributing 40.4%) in combination with a 100 kW power from the grid and showed that the LCOE was about $0.103/kWh . Looking at such cases, the proposed system cost in Ethiopia falls within the range of LCOE in the region.

As a signatory to the Paris Agreement, Ethiopia is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. The deployment of solar energy systems not only helps mitigate climate change but also supports the country's broader sustainable development objectives, including poverty alleviation, and economic resilience.

However, there was no private investment in solar power plants in Ethiopia. Mainly the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo) has been a state-owned and vertically integrated monopoly that controls the market from generation to selling of electricity throughout the country .