Pumped Hydro- Energy Storage System in Ethiopia: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

The shares of RE sources are rising because of global warming concerns and the depletion of fossil fuels. However, due to its intermittent nature sustainable power supply depends on the proper energy mix and energy storage. By 2025, Ethiopia has planned to export 24 TWh of energy. Accordingly, its power generation is incorporating different RE sources dominated by hydropower. This paper has reviewed the global up-to-date status of PHES and Ethiopia’s current energy situation and potential PHES. The objective of this paper is to show Ethiopia’s potential for PHES and serve as a “Green Battery’’ for the East Africa Power Pool (EAPP). The review shows that PHES can easily replace backup diesel generators used as a backup during a blackout.  Moreover, it showed the Policy barrier for energy storage in the Ethiopian National Energy Policy proclaimed in 1994 and its 2012 updated policy. Thus, Ethiopia’s energy policies need to consider PHES in its energy storage strategy while expanding its generation.