Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Wind Country Notes

Ethiopia
It has been found that Ethiopian wind speeds suitable for electricity generation vary across the territory. According to a recent survey, there are several stations with higher than 6 m/s annual average wind speed - the speed generally considered as the minimum necessary for power production. The highest wind speeds measured were in the Mekelle Region at Ashegoda with 8 m/s and Harena 6.84 m/s. Other high wind speed sites were found at Nazareth and Gondar with 6.64 m/s and 6.07 m/s respectively. Wind speeds at around 4 m/s were recorded in Harar, Debre Birhan and Sululta. This work was undertaken in 2005 with the assistance of GTZ of Germany, as part of the TERNA programme (Technical Expertise for Renewable Energy Application). The annual distribution shows a minimum in July and August and two peaks in March and October.

Medium wind speeds of between 3.5 and 5.5 m/s (energy values between 500 and 1 500 Mcal/m²) exist over most of the eastern part of the country and the central rift valley zone. Such winds provide a promising potential for water lifting in the rift valley settlements, where water is scarce both for irrigation and domestic uses. At the present time there are a dozen wind turbines installed by a Catholic Mission in the Meki-Zeway area to pump water for schools and villages.

By the end of 2006, the management of the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCO) had decided to construct two parks of approximately 60 MW each for immediate implementation. The first turbine is planned to be online by June 2007 (end of the dry season).