Spanish renewable-energy company Siemens Gamesa has won a contract to implement a 100 MW wind power project in Ethiopia, a development that will increase its footprint in Africa.

This will be Siemens Gamesa’s first wind power project in the Horn of Africa nation.

The 100 MW Assela wind farm will be located between the towns of Adama and Assela, about 150 km south of the capital, Addis Ababa.

The wind farm is expected to power over 400 000 Ethiopian households and prevent the release of more than 260 000 t of carbon dioxide emissions a year.

“Siemens Gamesa is intent on expanding its leadership across Africa and, in turn, help a growing transition to green energy across the continent. So, we are extremely pleased to begin work in Ethiopia and look forward to collaborating with both State-owned Ethiopian Electric Power and the country to continue to promote their drive to install more renewables and meet transformational energy targets,” says Siemens Gamesa Onshore Southern Europe and Africa CEO Roberto Sabalza.

Ethiopia has set an ambitious target to meet 100% of its domestic energy demand through renewable-energy sources such as wind, solar, hydro, biomass and geothermal by 2030.

Studies have shown that the country is endowed with abundant resources, particularly wind, with potential capacity of 10 GW. The installed wind generation capacity currently stands at 324 MW.

According to a Wood Mackenzie forecast, about 2 GW of wind generation will be installed in Ethiopia by 2029.

The Assela wind farm will comprise 29 SG 3.4-132 wind turbines and is expected to be commissioned by the start of 2023.

The project will generate about 300 000 MWh/y. Siemens Gamesa will provide full engineering, procurement and turnkey construction.

The Assela wind project will be financed by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs through Danida Business Finance, adding to a loan agreement signed between the Ethiopian Ministry of Finance and Economic Cooperation and Danske Bank.

Ethiopia’s National Electrification Programme, launched in 2017, outlines a plan to attain universal access by 2025, with off-grid solutions for 35% of the population.

Siemens Gamesa is among the global leaders in the wind power industry, with a strong presence in all facets of the renewable-energy business – from offshore, onshore and services – and boasts more than 107 GW installed capacity across 90 countries. In Africa, the company operates in ten countries.