Why is off-grid solar important in Ethiopia?

Off-grid solar products provide low-cost energy access to millions of Ethiopians. For the millions of people living in remote rural areas of Ethiopia who lack access to the power grid or cannot afford electricity, solar energy represents an important first step on the energy access ladder.

Are off-grid renewables viable in Ethiopia?

In Ethiopia, the alignment of other development goals such as health with energy has enabled the development of off-grid renewables. In both cases, however, modern renewables such as wind and solar remain marginal, reaching negligible segments of the total population.

Can communities be engaged in deploying off-grid energy systems in Ethiopia and Mozambique?

Community energy offers a framework to develop local technology implementation and management skills to create close relationships between communities and their infrastructure. However, current legislative and governance frameworks in Ethiopia and Mozambique constrain the possibility of engaging communities in deploying off-grid energy systems.

Does Ethiopia have a wind power system?

Ethiopia has connected 33% of its population to the national grid and 11% with off-grid solutions—mostly mini-grids and solar PV systems. Since 2012, wind farms have been installed to compensate for the shortfalls of hydroelectric power in the dry season, but wind energy remains marginal in the national energy mix [ 63 ].

Does off-grid technology support community involvement in energy governance?

While off-grid technology deployment can encourage community involvement in energy governance, the Mozambican experience shows that existing approaches to rural electrification largely neglect communities’ needs, knowledge, and practices.

Does Mozambique need a small-scale off-grid energy system?

For the most part, the deployment of smaller-scale off-grid renewable energy technologies has remained relatively marginal in Mozambique’s energy landscape, driven mainly by grants from donors and linked to FUNAE’s strategy for rural electrification [see also 46 ].