Assela Wind Farm begins supplying clean energy to national grid

Ethiopia has taken a major leap forward in its clean energy ambitions as the Assela Wind Farm, a 100-megawatt (MW) facility, delivered its first power to the national grid this week. Located 150 kilometers south of Addis Ababa in the Oromia region, the wind farm is set to generate over 300 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of renewable electricity annually once all 29 turbines are fully operational by the end of 2025. This output will be enough to meet the electricity needs of more than 140,000 Ethiopian households.The Assela Wind Farm is owned by Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) and stands as a flagship project for international cooperation. The project is fully financed by Denmark through a grant from Danida Sustainable Infrastructure Finance (DSIF) and a loan from Danske Bank. Siemens Gamesa, a Spanish-German company and global leader in wind energy, was responsible for construction.The project exemplifies Denmark’s commitment to building equal partnerships with Ethiopia and Africa, and it aligns with the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy, which mobilizes public and private investment for smart, clean, and secure energy connections worldwide.Ethiopia aims to achieve middle-income status by 2030 through a climate-resilient and low-carbon development path. Large-scale renewable energy projects like Assela are critical to reducing the country’s reliance on fossil fuels and traditional biomass, especially in rural areas. Wind energy also helps diversify Ethiopia’s electricity mix, which currently depends heavily on hydropower, thereby strengthening the nation’s climate resilience.With the addition of Assela’s clean power, Ethiopia is moving closer to universal access to modern, affordable energy and solidifying its role as a regional power hub in Eastern Africa.The launch was marked by a ceremony attended by high-level representatives from Ethiopia, Denmark, and the European Union. Semereta Sewasew, State Minister of Finance for Economic Cooperation said “the Assela Wind Farm represents a major step in Ethiopia’s shift toward a resilient and diversified energy system. Our collaboration with Denmark has been instrumental in integrating clean energy into the national grid and advancing our economic and climate objectives.” Sune Krogstrup, Ambassador of Denmark to Ethiopia said “drawing on Denmark’s extensive experience in wind energy and sustainable practices, we are proud to contribute to enhancing Ethiopia’s energy system. This collaboration not only advances Ethiopia’s renewable energy capacity but also strengthens the bonds between our nations.”