The potential for wind generator manufacture in Ethiopia

Rural Electrification in East Africa is seen by many as offering an important improvement in the standard of living of many in the rural population, which makes up the vast majority of people in the region. There are substantial obstacles in the way of implementing a rural electrification program - an appropriate and affordable generation technology being one of them. Existing and projected markets for wind generated electricity largely determine generator technology; the expansion of the wind industry into less developed regions is shown to be following the pattern of its growth in Europe and the USA. This paper suggests that an alternative technology propagation is possible. The decentralised nature of the wind resource has often been cited as an advantage in its use for electricity generation in Developing Countries. Avoiding excessive debt, and an over reliance on imports, suggests that manufacture of wind generators should take place as close to the users as possible. The case of Ethiopia is examined and the available resources - economic, wind regime, raw materials and skill base - and the existing manufacturing capability/capacity is described, problems are highlighted and some implications for generator design are drawn.