Ethiopia's Ministry of Finance has partnered with AMEA POWER to build Horn of Africa's largest onshore wind power project, the Aysha Wind Power Project. With an investment of USD 600 million, this 300 MW wind farm is set to be a key player in the country's renewable energy sector.

The windfarm is located 700 km east of Addis Ababa in Shenelle Woreda of the Somali Regional State and has a capacity to generate 120 MW of power. The project aims to generate approximately 1.22 Tera-Wh of electricity annually, contributing significantly to Ethiopia's power generation capacity.

In September last year, Aysha Wind Farm announced that it was connected to the national grid after 16 of its wind turbines with a capacity of producing 40 MW conducted a test run. It is expected to have 48 turbines when it becomes fully operational.

The project is expected to create around 2,000 jobs during the construction and operations phases, boosting the local economy.

Ethiopian Electric Power has successfully harnessed 404 megawatts of electricity from wind power this year, primarily from the Ashegoda, Adama I and II, and Aysha II wind power plants. The cumulative capacity of these plants has now reached 404 megawatts. Additionally, a feasibility study has been completed for 18 new wind power projects, which have the potential to generate 2,700 megawatts. These upcoming projects are planned for various locations, including Gode, Kabribeyah, Tulu Guled, and Adigala.

Ethiopia is strategically emphasizing the development of renewable energy, with a particular focus on wind power, aiming to leverage its abundant natural resources and reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels. The country possesses the capability to produce up to 1.3 gigawatts of energy from wind, 45,000 megawatts from hydropower, and 10,000 megawatts from geothermal sources.

Source: Fana BC and 2Merkato Archives

Image source: Fana BC