Addis ababa: The International Solar Alliance (ISA) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening support toward fulfilling the huge potential of solar development in Ethiopia. Commending the nation’s macroeconomic reform for creating an enabling ecosystem, International Solar Alliance Director-General Ashish Khanna told ENA that the alliance is here in Ethiopia to support its ambition in developing the huge potential of solar development.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Khanna stated, “We are here in Ethiopia, to help Ethiopia fulfill its potential for a huge solar development. We signed a country partnership framework which will allow us to work over the next three years on how to help Ethiopia develop projects, policies and an ecosystem.” He further noted that an agreement has been signed to help produce 400 megawatts of a large grid utility.
Khanna emphasized that such projects can attract significant private investment into the country. A 100-kilowatt solar rooftop has already been constructed on the premises of the Ministry of Water and Energy. Stressing the importance of building local capabilities, he highlighted that Ethiopians must take charge of their own programs on solar power development.
ISA’s center of excellence, the Solar Technology Application Resource Center, is actively training Ethiopians at Addis Ababa University. Ethiopia is implementing substantial macroeconomic reforms aimed at creating a more business-friendly environment and attracting foreign investment.
Khanna remarked that once a country undertakes significant macroeconomic reforms, it becomes crucial for private sector-led growth and investment to commence, as the government has its own resource limitations. Solar power development is identified as a sector that can draw a lot of private investment, and the timing is considered favorable.
He pointed out that after completing the macroeconomic reforms, the conducive policy environment and ecosystem allow considerable private sector investment in the solar development sector. “So this enabling ecosystem, because of the timing, is absolutely the right time for Ethiopia to have detailed programs to now attract private sector investment.”
Water and Energy State Minister Sultan Welle recently affirmed that Ethiopia is uniquely positioned to leverage solar energy not only to meet domestic needs but also to become an energy hub. Ethiopia is actively working on creating an enabling environment for sustainable energy projects, empowering local communities, and ensuring clean energy for all Ethiopians, as developing solar energy is one of the government’s priorities.