Ethiopia: new wind power plant boosts energy supply

Ethiopia has inaugurated the first phase of the Aysha II Wind Power Plant, a new wind power project aimed at increasing renewable energy supply and strengthening regional cooperation, as reported by APA News on February 1st. 

The Aysha II Wind Power Plant now generates 80 megawatts of electricity, feeding power into the national grid. It is located in the Sitti zone of Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State, about 680 kilometres east of Addis Ababa. Leaders from across East Africa attended the ceremony.

The wind power plant is the largest of its kind in the region so far, marking a significant step in Ethiopia’s push to become a regional leader in renewable energy. Almost all of the country’s electricity already comes from renewable sources, mainly hydropower, and the government aims for new wind energy to help meet rising demand and support economic growth.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed led the inauguration alongside Ismail Omar Guelleh, President of Djibouti and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of Somalia. Ethiopian officials said the presence of regional leaders highlighted the shared interest in energy cooperation and cross-border development.

The Aysha II project was launched in 2017 and is being built at a cost of more than $257 million. Once fully completed, it will have a total installed capacity of 120 megawatts. The first phase, now operational, includes 32 wind turbines, each capable of producing 2.5 megawatts of electricity. A total of 48 windmills are planned for the full project.

The project follows other large energy developments, including the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which the government has also framed as a regional project despite concerns raised by Egypt. 

Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Abiy thanked Ethiopian Electric Power, the Chinese company Dongfang Electric International Corporation, and local communities for their role in completing the first phase of the project. He said Ethiopia’s renewable energy plans are closely linked to cooperation with neighbouring countries and cannot succeed in isolation.

Moges Mekonnen, Communications Director at Ethiopian Electric Power, said, “Each windmill at the Aysha II wind power project has a generating capacity of 2.5 MW at maximum, which is at least 1 MW higher than the generating capacity of each windmill at other wind farms in the country.” 

Moreover, Ethiopia aims to export clean electricity to other countries in the Horn of Africa. Officials say projects like Aysha II will help meet domestic needs while also supporting power exports and reducing carbon emissions across the region.

 

APA News, Maghrebi.org