The first solar biogas hybrid electricity system in Africa will soon be realized with the agreement between the Government of Ethiopia and AORA Solar. Virtually the pioneer in this development, the Ethiopian Government views this project as extremely beneficial to numerous communities within their country and may well extend to various areas in the African continent.
As part of its Climate-Resilient Green Economy Strategy (CRGES), the Ethiopian Government selected AORA Solar’s hybrid solution because it was the most suited to Ethiopia’s particular circumstances. The AORA Solar hybrid system will provide uninterrupted power 24/7 that operates using the sun’s rays during the day and transitions to the use of biofuels under cloud cover and at night.
AORA Solar hybrid design most in-tune with Ethiopia
Another reason for choosing AORA is that it will take up just 0.86 acres or 3,500 metres per module. The AORA Solar hybrid system can provide 170 kilowatts of thermal power and 100 kilowatts of solar electricity using only 8% of water required in Concentrated Solar Projects or CSPs, an important factor for countries with arid climates like Ethiopia.
Additionally, the AORA Solar system’s off-grid compatibility enables its system to function independently of the national or local grid and will not entail expensive storage costs. The Israeli-based company will also train and educate Ethiopia’s local population in the operation of the tulip-shaped solar hybrid plant to create educational and economic opportunities for thousands of Ethiopians.
AORA Solar hybrid predicted to have local economic and social impact
According to Zev Rosenzweig, AORA’s CEO, giving Ethiopians affordable access to solar power will have economic and social impact on the country’s off-grid communities in providing energy to medical facilities and hospitals, post-harvest storage, schools and other educational institutions, refrigeration of processed food and agricultural produce, and groundwater pumping, among others.
Ethiopia’s CRGES welcomes AORA Solar as its partner not only to improve accessibility to renewable energy that is environmentally friendly and affordable but to provide sufficient and quality energy in support of the government’s 2025 middle-income status agenda. The partnership between CRGES and AORA Solar will also strengthen the development of Ethiopia’s green economy.
Construction of the tulip-shaped pilot plant will begin in the middle of 2015, after which Ethiopia’s Ministry of Water, Irrigation, and Energy under Alemayehu Tegenu will expand the deployment of more AORA Solar biogas hybrid electricity installations to off-grid rural communities in selected areas.
New technology more than just a solar system for Ethiopian communities
The use of the AORA Solar technology will be more than just a source of solar energy. Because it can operate using not only the sun’s heat but any liquid or gaseous fuel as well including natural gas, biodiesel, and biogas, AORA is ideal for the varying conditions of Ethiopia’s landscape. The versatility of the AORA Solar energy system will enable it to run on a wide range of modes in all kinds of weather conditions.
From solar-only to hybrid to fuel-only modes, it can supply electricity from adequate sunlight, generate full power capacity if sunlight proves insufficient, and still generate stable and uninterrupted energy supply on overcast days or at night. According to Tegenu, AORA’s solar biogas hybrid electricity system will help Ethiopia achieve transformation of the CRGES into action.
