Renewable energy potential assessment and modeling for improving electric energy accessibility in rural areas of northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Northwest Ethiopia (east Gojjam) has envisioned developing its Climate Resilient Green Economy strategy through the use of renewable energy sources. However, harvesting wind, solar, and geothermal energy is below the satisfactory level. Therefore, this paper aims to model and assess the potential of renewable energy to improve energy accessibility in the rural areas of northwest Ethiopia. Wind, cloud cover, temperature, and radiation data were obtained from the European Centre of Medium Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) model. Logarithmic power-law interpolation, radiation flux, and irradiance power modeling are applied to this work. The study area model results indicated that the annual wind potential is limited for implementation. A minimum and maximum value of solar energy is found at 5.30 kWm⁻² during summer and 9.75 kWm⁻² during spring, respectively. The average value of the total energy flux for geothermal energy exploration is found 1500.00 Wm⁻². Generally, the south and southwest parts of northwest Ethiopia have the potential to implement geothermal energy. Solar energy plantation is encouraged in the whole parts of the study area excluding Choke Mountain. Hence, a renewable energy implementation plan for energy resource management through a stakeholder engagement platform is required to convert this research into a project.