Ethiopia is the fourth country to join Scaling Solar. Ethiopia Electric Power signed an agreement with IFC to advise on developing up to 500MW of solar power under the initiative. Although Ethiopia has vast renewable energy potential, it currently has an energy shortfall of 500MW, with over 70% of its energy coming from hydropower.

Solar power will help diversify Ethiopia’s energy mix and allow it to manage its water resources more effectively. This is vital, bearing in mind the severe droughts that have afflicted the country. Scaling Solar will provide a quick-to-build, reliable complement to hydropower, drawing on Ethiopia’s irradiation levels of 1500 to 200 kilowatt-hours per square meter.