Energy planning and modelling in Ethiopia

Balmorel: Power system model | February 2020 - April 2021

The Danish government has initiated a government-to-government cooperation with Ethiopia on long-term energy planning and modelling. The objective of the assignment is to support and follow up on the DEA’s engagements with Minstry of Water, Irrigation and Energy, MoWIE, and Ethiopian Electric Power, EEP, within long-term energy planning – specifically focusing on power sector modelling in Balmorel.

A tailored e-learning platform (eaedu.dk) was developed to cope with the Covid travel restrictions. Intensive training in Balmorel was delivered to MoWIE and EEP staff in May 2020, and more online/in-person courses followed during 2020.

The Balmorel model was run on a new cloud platform: Ea Balmorel Cloud. The model was set up to cover Ethiopia and 11 neighbouring countries. Focus of the activity was to investigate cost and benefit of diversification of the Ethiopian power system. Currently generation is dominated by hydro power. Also, potential for export of electricity was analysed.

An Ethiopian Energy Outlook was developed with the Balmorel analyses as well as analyses of electrification, electricity in transport, the use of biomass, and the prospects of using local natural gas.

The project started in February 2020 and was financed by DEA.