Siemens Gamesa, a merger between Siemens Wind Power and Gamesa Corporación Tecnológica, has acquired the rights for its first wind farm project in Ethiopia. The project is an agreement with the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPC) as part of the Ethiopian government’s drive to meet sustainable energy goals.
Based on the agreement, the company is going to be providing the Assela Project with 29 turbines. The 100 MW wind farm is projected to give more than 400,000 Ethiopian households access to electricty. The farm will generate more than 300,000 MWh per year.
Ethiopia aims to achieve full reliance on renewable energy sources for its domestic needs by 2030. According to the World Bank the country has the potential to install up to 10GW with 324 MW already installed.
Experts cite the Assela Project as a crucial step towards achieving Ethiopia’s energy goals as it is the first single, large-scale project. The wind farm is set to be fully commissioned by April or May of 2023.
The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the biggest financer for the farm via Danida Business Finance. With more than 107 GW installed worldwide Siemens Gamesa, on the other hand, is considered an ideal partner for Ethiopia, making the project one of the more mega projects currently being implemented in the country.