Unlocking Ethiopia’s Renewable Energy Potential: Pathways into a Sustainable Future

The global energy transition necessitates a shift to renewables to mitigate climate change and ensure energy security. For developing nations like Ethiopia, this presents a critical opportunity to leverage abundant domestic resources for suitable development. Ethiopia, with over 45% of its population lacking electricity, faces a paradox of energy poverty and immense renewable potential. Its grid is 90% hydropower-dependent, making it vulnerable to climate-induced droughts. Previous studies have individually assessed Ethiopia’s hydropower, geothermal, wind, and solar potential. However, a holistic analysis integrating all sectors with current policy and investment frameworks is needed. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of Ethiopia’s renewable energy landscape. We synthesize the potential of hydropower, geothermal, wind, and solar resources, and propose integrated policy and investment pathways to achieve universal electrification by 2030 and position Ethiopia as a regional renewable energy exporter.