The Metehara plant is expected to be operational by 2019. Once up and running, the facility will be able to generate approximately 280 GWh per year.
By Dan McCue (Renewable Energy Magazine)
Italian company Enel, acting through a consortium led by its renewables arm Enel Green Power, has been selected for a 100 MW PV project following a solar tender launched by local utility Ethiopian Electric Power.
The company will develop, build and operate the 100 MW PV plant in Metehara, Oromia region, central Ethiopia.
The EGP-led consortium will be investing approximately $120 million in the construction of the plant. The facility will be located in Metehara, in the Oromia region, almost 200 km east of Addis Ababa, an area that enjoys high levels of solar radiation.
The Metehara plant is expected to be operational by 2019. Once up and running, the facility will be able to generate approximately 280 GWh per year. The solar park will be supported by a 20-year power purchase agreement with Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) Corporation for all of the energy generated by the plant.
“Ethiopia has all the potential to become a key market for Enel’s strategy in Africa,” said Antonio Cammisecra, Head of Enel Green Power. “The country has plenty of renewable sources that can generate energy at affordable rates thanks to modern green technologies. Additionally, Ethiopia boasts a stable regulatory framework, based on tenders and PPAs, and steady energy demand growth, which is also sustained by a long-term electrification plan. We are more than happy to invest in this country, with the aim of meeting its energy demand through our renewable energy expertise, helping to boost Ethiopia’s overall development while supporting local communities with our sustainability initiatives.”
Ethiopia has an installed generation capacity of around 4.3 GW, with 3,810 MWcoming from hydro installations, 324 MW from wind, and 7 MW is geothermal.
Source: Renewable Energy Magazine
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