In Ethiopia, as of 2023, more than half of the electricity consumption derives from low-carbon sources, amounting to around 18 TWh, with hydropower being the dominant contributor at approximately 17 TWh. This indicates that clean energy sources play a crucial role in the country's electricity generation. However, when comparing Ethiopia's per capita electricity consumption of 142 kWh to the global average of 3781 kWh per person, a significant disparity is evident. This low level of electricity generation might hinder the country’s development efforts, affecting areas like education, healthcare, and industrial growth. Ensuring a greater supply of electricity, particularly from low-carbon sources, will be essential for addressing these challenges and promoting sustainable development.
Is Electricity Growing in Ethiopia?
Examining Ethiopia's electricity growth, there has been a slight increase, with consumption rising from 139 kWh/person in 2022 to 142 kWh/person in 2023. This modest growth, also reflected in low-carbon electricity generation, showcases an upward trajectory, but the pace is disappointing compared to global electricity consumption trends. While any growth is celebrated, the current rate is not sufficient to significantly improve living standards or support more robust economic development. Thus, accelerating the expansion of clean energy is a pressing priority for the nation, ensuring that electricity becomes more accessible to the population.
Suggestions
To boost low-carbon electricity generation in Ethiopia, the country can look to successful regions for inspiration. With the vast potential for solar energy, adopting strategies similar to those of China and India, which produce 834 TWh and 134 TWh from solar energy, respectively, could be beneficial. Ethiopia could also consider the significant impact of wind energy in Brazil and Texas, generating 108 TWh and 125 TWh each. Furthermore, introducing nuclear energy, as demonstrated by regions like the United States and France, could provide a stable, large-scale layer of clean electricity. Harnessing solar and nuclear power would enable Ethiopia to diversify its energy mix, reduce dependency on hydropower, and significantly scale up low-carbon electricity production.
History
Looking at the history of low-carbon electricity in Ethiopia, hydropower has seen a series of incremental increases in generation, particularly since the 2000s. From the early 2000s, there have been steady advancements, with notable surges in 2010 and 2016, both years showing substantial increases of more than 1 TWh. Although wind energy made a modest appearance in 2015 with an increase of 0.3 TWh, its contribution declined in 2022 by 0.3 TWh. The consistent expansion of hydroelectricity demonstrates Ethiopia's focus on clean energy, but there's a pressing need to diversify beyond hydropower alone. Enhancing the energy mix with wind, solar, and the possibility of nuclear could propel Ethiopia towards a more sustainable and resilient electricity future.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.