Briefing Paper

A Climate for Solar Power: Solutions for Ethiopia’s Energy Poverty

Solar energy is playing an important role in Ethiopia’s rural electrification by providing off-grid energy to households and enterprises across the country. Under the country’s Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II), the Government of Ethiopia has set ambitious targets for expanding access to off-grid energy through solar technologies, including 3.6 million lanterns, 400,000 solar house systems and 3,600 solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for rural health centres, schools and other government service centres by 2020.