Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, 67 out of 120 million inhabitants lack access to adequate and reliable electricity. The lack of access to electricity limits the country’s potential for economic growth and social development. In addition, over 90% of Ethiopia’s cooking fuels is derived from unsustainable charcoal or collected firewood and most of Ethiopia’s rural population knows little about the advantages of access to clean cooking. This leads to increasing deforestation and, consequently, soil erosion, as well as health problems such as respiratory tract diseases due to inefficient combustion and related smoke and dust. EnDev Ethiopia aims to establish self-sustaining markets for sustainable and clean energy supply. Low-income households, social facilities and small to medium-sized enterprises gain sustainable access to modern energy technologies and services, focusing on renewable energy and improved clean cooking solutions.
Technologies used in this project
- Improved cookstoves
- Solar mini-grids
- Stand-alone systems
Country data
- Access to modern cooking energy: 1,471,484*
- People with access to electricity: 894,292*
- SIs with access to modern energy services: 3,468*
- MSMEs with access to modern energy services: 7,211*
- *Achievements until December 2023
Approach
The Energising Development (EnDev) programme is a joint, impact oriented global programme financed by four core donor countries and co-financed by the European Union (EU) in several countries, including Ethiopia, facilitating self-sustaining markets for modern energy solutions. EnDev cooperates with governments, NGOs and the private sector in 20 partner countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia.
The interventions are based on three types of services: (1) energy efficient and improved cookstoves/ICS, (2) solar lanterns (PicoPV), solar home/stand-alone systems, and (3) community-based, off-grid electricity supply through photovoltaic mini-grids.
Clean cookstove producers and solar retailers receive technical and business development support (BDS) training as well as comprehensive market development support for a Productive use of Energy (PuE). Government and associations are also supported in enabling environment activities including policy and standard development and enforcement as well as end-of-life management (e.g. battery recycling).
The project also supports installation of solar systems for electricity access of social institutions (SI) such as schools and health centres. By enabling access to electricity, public and private services for the rural population are sustainably improved.
Outcomes
• Photovoltaic solar systems with a total installed capacity of more than 344 kWp have been installed in more than 300 off-grid public social institutions, such as health centres and community centres, providing access to modern energy services.
• To date, more than 10,588 solar home systems – sufficient to provide electricity for several lamps or for charging mobile phones – and about 399,790 solar lanterns (PicoPV) have been sold by retailers trained by EnDev Ethiopia, providing light to nearly 576,277 people.
• More than 800 small-scale producers of energy-efficient and improved cookstoves (ICS) established their business in 330 districts in seven regions. These producers have sold about 1,254,282 improved cookstoves (mostly Mirt and Tikikil stoves, for baking and cooking, respectively) since 2006.
• About 1,538,315 people benefit from energy-efficient cookstoves sold with the help of the programme. These stoves, currently in use, achieve savings of at least 424,619 tonnes of CO2 emissions and 394,217 tonnes of fuelwood per year.
• In four villages in southern Ethiopia, five pilot community-run mini-grids have been jointly planned with the communites who will provide the corresponding off-grid infrastructure, with poles and cables.
Lessons Learnt
Even though EnDev-trained producers and retailers sold many cookstoves and solar appliances, markets are still highly dependent on promotional activities. EnDev therefore strives to increase synergies through cooperation with policymakers and other stakeholders. In Ethiopia, a public-private approach has been identified as most effective.
Sustainable energy for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda
In January 2021, the IKEA Foundation in partnership with EnDev began promotion of PUE in the dairy and horticultural value chains in Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.
The project focuses on solar technologies and services for irrigation, cooling and drying for smallholder farmers in dairy and horticultural value chains to achieve increased productivity, improved nutritional outcomes, higher incomes, and improved climate-resilience and food security.
Strengthening the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem for Clean Cooking (SEE-CC)
In close partnership with EnDev, the SEE-CC programme introduces a new private-sector approach to promote clean and affordable cooking in Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Niger and Uganda.
Strengthening the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem for Clean Cooking (SEE-CC)