Ethiopia: Zero-Carbon Energy Systems and Energy Transitions

Ethiopia’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have been negligible, notwithstanding the country’s rapid economic growth. In 2017, its energy sector CO2 emissions, on a per capita basis, were the fourth lowest in the world. Ethiopia, however, remains vulnerable to disasters and as a result to climate change. Ethiopia established the Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) strategy, 2011, which is aimed at addressing both the country’s climate change adaptation and mitigation objectives, and is also part of its plan to reach middle-income status by 2025 based on carbon neutral growth. To achieve this, Ethiopia intends inter alia harnessing the generation of power from renewable energy sources and leapfrogging to modern and energy-efficient technologies. This chapter provides an assessment of Ethiopia’s efforts in tackling climate change under the CRGE strategy and National Adaptation plan. The paper also assesses the country’s efforts in diversifying its renewable power generation under the Power Sector Reform plan and in leveraging on Public Private Partnerships for renewable energy generation. It concludes that while Ethiopia has made concerted efforts in implementing a zero-carbon green growth development plan, some challenges remain. The chapter provides recommendations on further steps that Ethiopia can take to successfully implement its strategies towards a zero-carbon emission future.