Optimizing renewable-based energy supply options for power generation in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia unveiled homegrown economic reform agenda aimed to achieve a lower-middle status by 2030 and sustain its economic growth to achieve medium-middle and higher-middle status by 2040 and 2050 respectively. In this study, we evaluated the optimal renewable energy mix for power generation and ass...

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Main Authors: Megersa Tesfaye Boke, Semu Ayalew Moges, Zeleke Agide Dejen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2022-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0262595
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author Megersa Tesfaye Boke
Semu Ayalew Moges
Zeleke Agide Dejen
author_facet Megersa Tesfaye Boke
Semu Ayalew Moges
Zeleke Agide Dejen
author_sort Megersa Tesfaye Boke
collection DOAJ
description Ethiopia unveiled homegrown economic reform agenda aimed to achieve a lower-middle status by 2030 and sustain its economic growth to achieve medium-middle and higher-middle status by 2040 and 2050 respectively. In this study, we evaluated the optimal renewable energy mix for power generation and associated investment costs for the country to progressively achieve upper-middle-income countries by 2050. Two economic scenarios: business as usual and Ethiopia's homegrown reform agenda scenario were considered. The study used an Open Source energy Modeling System. The model results suggest: if projected power demand increases as anticipated in the homegrown reform agenda scenario, Ethiopia requires to expand the installed power capacity to 31.22GW, 112.45GW and 334.27GW to cover the current unmet and achieve lower, medium and higher middle-income status by 2030, 2040 and 2050 respectively. The Ethiopian energy mix continues to be dominated by hydropower and starts gradually shifting to solar and wind energy development towards 2050 as a least-cost energy supply option. The results also indicate Ethiopia needs to invest about 70 billion US$ on power plant investments for the period 2021-2030 to achieve the lower-middle-income electricity per capita consumption target by 2030 and staggering cumulative investment in the order of 750 billion US$ from 2031 to 2050 inclusive to achieve upper-middle-income electricity consumption rates by 2050. Ethiopia has enough renewable energy potential to achieve its economic target. Investment and financial sourcing remain a priority challenge. The findings could be useful in supporting decision-making concerning socio-economic development and investment pathways in the country.
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spelling doaj.art-b49d9c4ef2e7410d88267d2c0bc541e42022-12-21T23:44:33ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032022-01-01171e026259510.1371/journal.pone.0262595Optimizing renewable-based energy supply options for power generation in Ethiopia.Megersa Tesfaye BokeSemu Ayalew MogesZeleke Agide DejenEthiopia unveiled homegrown economic reform agenda aimed to achieve a lower-middle status by 2030 and sustain its economic growth to achieve medium-middle and higher-middle status by 2040 and 2050 respectively. In this study, we evaluated the optimal renewable energy mix for power generation and associated investment costs for the country to progressively achieve upper-middle-income countries by 2050. Two economic scenarios: business as usual and Ethiopia's homegrown reform agenda scenario were considered. The study used an Open Source energy Modeling System. The model results suggest: if projected power demand increases as anticipated in the homegrown reform agenda scenario, Ethiopia requires to expand the installed power capacity to 31.22GW, 112.45GW and 334.27GW to cover the current unmet and achieve lower, medium and higher middle-income status by 2030, 2040 and 2050 respectively. The Ethiopian energy mix continues to be dominated by hydropower and starts gradually shifting to solar and wind energy development towards 2050 as a least-cost energy supply option. The results also indicate Ethiopia needs to invest about 70 billion US$ on power plant investments for the period 2021-2030 to achieve the lower-middle-income electricity per capita consumption target by 2030 and staggering cumulative investment in the order of 750 billion US$ from 2031 to 2050 inclusive to achieve upper-middle-income electricity consumption rates by 2050. Ethiopia has enough renewable energy potential to achieve its economic target. Investment and financial sourcing remain a priority challenge. The findings could be useful in supporting decision-making concerning socio-economic development and investment pathways in the country.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0262595
spellingShingle Megersa Tesfaye Boke
Semu Ayalew Moges
Zeleke Agide Dejen
Optimizing renewable-based energy supply options for power generation in Ethiopia.
PLoS ONE
title Optimizing renewable-based energy supply options for power generation in Ethiopia.
title_full Optimizing renewable-based energy supply options for power generation in Ethiopia.
title_fullStr Optimizing renewable-based energy supply options for power generation in Ethiopia.
title_full_unstemmed Optimizing renewable-based energy supply options for power generation in Ethiopia.
title_short Optimizing renewable-based energy supply options for power generation in Ethiopia.
title_sort optimizing renewable based energy supply options for power generation in ethiopia
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0262595
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