Photovoltaic, Enel enters Ethiopia

Enel, through a consortium led by its renewables division Enel Green Power and which also includes Orchid Business Group, a leading infrastructure group in Ethiopia, has been selected as the best bidder for a 100 MW photovoltaic project in the utility's solar tender Local Ethiopian Electric Power under the Ethiopian Government's Growth and Transformation Plan. The consortium obtains the right to develop, build and operate 100 MW of photovoltaic capacity in Metehara. The Ethiopian government with GTP 2 aims to reach approximately 12.000 MW of new hydroelectric, wind, geothermal and solar capacity, in partnership with the private sector, with the aim of responding to the country's electrification demand, while diversifying the mix of generation in line with the national energy plan to 2020. 
 
“Ethiopia has all the potential needed to become a key market in Enel's strategy in Africa,” said Antonio Cammisecra, Head of Enel Green Power. “The country is rich in renewable sources that can generate energy at affordable costs thanks to modern green technologies. Furthermore, Ethiopia boasts a stable regulatory framework, based on tenders and PPAs, and a constant growth in energy demand, also supported by a long-term plan for the electrification of the country. We are very happy to invest in Ethiopia, to respond to its energy demand with our expertise in the renewable sector, and help promote the development of the country, while supporting local communities with our sustainability initiatives”. 
 
The consortium led by EGP will invest approximately 120 million US dollars in the construction of the photovoltaic plant. The facility will be located in Metehara, in the Oromia region, approximately 200 km east of Addis Ababa, an area characterized by high levels of solar radiation. The Metehara plant is expected to enter service in 2019 and, once operational, will be able to generate approximately 280 GWh per year, avoiding the emission of approximately 296.000 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. The project is supported by a XNUMX-year supply agreement with EEP for all energy produced by the solar park. 
 
Ethiopia has an installed generation capacity of around 4,3 GW, of which 90% comes from hydroelectric sources, 8% from wind power and 1% from thermal sources, and significant potential from solar, wind, geothermal and hydroelectric. The country has a population of 102 million people of which approximately 27,2% have access to electricity. 
 
Enel is the largest private operator in the renewable energy sector in Africa in terms of installed capacity. In South Africa, Enel is present in renewables through its subsidiary Enel Green Power RSA, which owns and operates five photovoltaic plants (Paleisheuwel, 82,5 MW, Adams, 82,5 MW, Pulida, 82,5 MW, Tom Burke, 66 MW , and Upington, 10 MW) as well as managing two wind farms (Nojoli, 88 MW and Gibson Bay, 111 MW), both located in the Eastern Cape province. Enel is also present in Zambia, where it was awarded a 34 MW solar plant.