This article explores the transition to renewable energy for all purposes in developing countries. Ethiopia is chosen as a case study and is an exemplary of developing countries with comparable climatic an.
Ethiopia can progressively defossilise its energy sector by coupling low-cost renewable electricity to the entire energy system, in particular the sectors of heat and transport. 5.1. Electricity generation mix and climate vulnerability consciousness
Does Ethiopia have a good energy system?
These and other features reveal that Ethiopia lacks a modern, flexible, reliable, and affordable energy system that could withstand its fast-growing energy demand due to high growth rates of population, urbanization, and industrialization [, ]. The existing energy system impinges on the quality of the environment in several ways.
What role will electricity play in Ethiopia's future energy system?
Sector coupling Electricity will play a major role in Ethiopia's future energy system and will be the energy of choice for most end-uses. Electricity as new primary energy carrier allows coupling of previously separated end-use sectors, allowing synergy effects across the energy sector.
It is shared among transport (54%), industry (31%), agriculture (4%), residential (2%), and services (2%). The electric power generation has grown by more than four times between 2004/05 and 2018/19 . Fig. 2 depicts that hydropower continues to dominate the Ethiopian power system.
Why do Ethiopian power systems have low storage requirements?
The plausible reason for low storage requirements in the CPSs is due to a very high share of hydropower and fossil fuel contribution. It is worth mentioning that supply side flexibility of the Ethiopian power system is largely linked to the flexibility of the dammed hydropower plants in the country. Grids provide additional operational flexibility.
Foreign (or export) demand for electricity is a recent energy demand sector . Fig. 3 shows, between 2012/13 and 2018/19, Ethiopia exported an average of 895 GWh electricity per year . Electricity export is forecasted to reach to 35,303 GWh per year by 2037 . Fig. 3. Forecasted electricity export sales in Ethiopia .