Wind project development workshop in Ethiopia reveals even bigger private sector project pipeline
Leading Danish and international wind power experts shared experiences on project development to ensure the implementation of a successful independent power producer (IPP) wind power tenders in Ethiopia
As a part of the of the Danish-Ethiopian cooperation on development of boosting wind power in Ethiopia a workshop has taken place the last couple of days in Addis Ababa in which leading Danish and international wind power companies and experts have shared experiences on wind project development in Africa and internationally with the Ethiopian government and authorities. These learnings will be utilized in the development of a wind project tenders in Ethiopia to support the utilization of the countries waste wind power potential financed by the private sector. Danish Energy Agencies (DEA) Ethiopian partners from Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Electricity (MOWIE) and state-owned utility EEP had a chance of a chance of getting first hand experiences on various part of developing wind power projects fast and cost effective.
More IPP projects short-term
In the presentation of the current Ethiopian plans for activating the private sector in the development of wind power MOWIE revealed that a number of planned state owned wind projects will be converted to IPP projects. DEA, EEP and MOWIE will along with World Bank review these projects to ensure the necessary quality of project data to attracted potential IPP bidders. Also both MOWIE and the Ethiopian Ministry of Finance gave a status on the creation of the foundation and framework for future IPP power projects (wind, solar and geothermal). Important legislation is currently been reviewed by the Government of Ethiopia.
Optimal risk sharing
The main objective of the workshop was to secure an optimal sharing of tasks and risks between the public and private sector in the development of wind energy in Ethiopia. Leading Danish wind power companies like Vestas and K2 Management and international players like Enel Green Power and DNV GL all presented different aspects of wind project development and key learnings from developing projects in Africa. The main message from the private sector is that clear and transparent frameworks are essential for the success of the coming IPP wind power tenders in Ethiopia. EEP on the other hand shared their experiences from the first large scale wind projects in Ethiopia. Based upon this input and inspired by the Danish one-stop-shop model for large near- and offshore wind projects an optimal solution for Ethiopia will be developed.
About AWPGE
- Accelerated Wind Power Generation in Ethiopia (AWPGE) is to support the expansion of wind energy in Ethiopia as an important supplement to the country’s larger hydropower reserves and ensuring a position in the region as net exporter of renewables to neighbouring countries as Sudan and Kenya
- AWPGE is to mobilise the private sector in the Ethiopian energy supply and supporting the financing of the necessary extension for continuous growth and development in the country and region
- With Danish expertise and experiences on authorities, AWPGE will ensure a fast and cost-effective treatment of larger wind power projects in Ethiopia benefitting Ethiopian power consumers and the Ethiopian economy
