British energy companies eye Ethiopia

Seventeen British energy companies plan to invest in Ethiopia’s energy sector as part of the Energy Catalyst Mission to develop clean energy technologies in the country.
The UK Embassy in Ethiopia announced the visit this week. Members of the organization are expected to meet their Ethiopian counterparts in the energy sector to understand the opportunities for collaboration between Ethiopia and the UK.
The mission holds as objectives to help companies apply for Energy Catalyst Round 7, which is a funding scheme for clean, affordable and secure energy in Sub-Saharan Africa, said Alicia Goodbrook Innovation Lead for the Energy Team at Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation and mission manager of the organization.
Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency, part of United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) since April 2018, drives productivity and economic growth by supporting businesses to develop and realize the potential of new ideas to connects businesses to the partners, customers and investors that can help them turn ideas into commercially successful products, services and business growth.
The aim of this mission is to help organizations that are interested in applying to get a better understanding of the specific energy access issues in Ethiopia as well as meet in country organizations which might be interested in partnering in an application for round 7, she adds.
The organization is responsible for running the Energy Catalyst program which is a collaborative research and development fund for energy technologies tackling the energy trilemma, as well as the energy access needs in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia via Round 7 of the Energy Catalyst that has allocated a total of 22 million pound for Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) and Department for international development (DFID).
Cross-Flow Energy Company Ltd, Economad Solutions Ltd, Energi Consults Ltd, Entrust Smart Home Microgrid Ltd, Fractal Grid Technologies Ltd Gamma Energy Ltd and other including University of Edinburgh and University of Oxford are in the mission.
“Ethiopia has excellent wind resources and rapidly growing power demand – Cross-Flow can help supply firm, affordable power in remote locations,” said James T Barry Chief Executive Officer of Cross-Flow Energy Company Ltd.
Ethiopia is one of the few countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to generate electricity from renewable resources, and equipped with tremendous energy recourses that make in a position to be a key player in the regional power market and the Eastern Africa Power Pool.
Currently, Ethiopia generates 4,200 MW power, and hopes to boost a generation potential by aggressively engaged in renewable energy alternatives.