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Ethiopia

We don’t yet have the infrastructure to connect local capital to local founders. There are no solid networks of investors who trust homegrown innovation or are deeply embedded in the day-to-day hustle of our entrepreneurs. And because of that, startups often find themselves stuck in silos – pitching to the void, or looking abroad for funding.
After becoming the world’s first country to ban imports of fossil fuel vehicles last year, a patchy power grid and high EV purchase costs are slowing Ethiopia’s green transport revolution in the countryside
Covestro has developed specialized solar dryers made of polycarbonate to assist coffee farmers in Ethiopia during the harvest season. The initiative, launched in collaboration with GIZ aims to support disadvantaged regions globally with simple, effective technologies.
Ethiopia’s shift to electric vehicles (EVs) is accelerating, with over 42,000 EVs currently in operation and around 100,000 more on the way, according to the Ministry of Transport and Logistics. With the import ban on fuel-powered automobiles, various stakeholders are investing in e-mobility infrastructure.
©Bl∡ke on Pexels
Across Africa, there’s a familiar refrain in industries like textiles, electronics, and agriculture: countries become the world’s factory, pumping out raw materials or semi-finished goods while importing the shiny, finished products. It’s a little like cooking a five-course meal, only to have someone else eat it while you’re left with the crumbs.
Learn more about the SahanEase Solar Cost Estimator. This platform is our effort to help Ethiopians make informed, confident decisions about solar energy, giving them a clear, personalized look at potential savings, costs, and options. It’s a small but significant step in our ongoing work to bring transparency to the solar sector.
Ethiopia’s push for renewable energy solutions is noble, but it’s become an unfortunate playground for exploitation. The Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) solar model, touted as the affordable answer to energy poverty, has turned out to be just another trap, and the victims are the very people who need reliable, sustainable power the most.
©Lighting Africa
I still remember the day the first solar lantern arrived in my village. It was a small, bright beacon — a symbol of hope in a place where the sun set early and darkness stretched long. For the first time, families could gather around a light without the choking fumes of a kerosene lamp.
As renewable energy expert, I’ve had my fair share of head-scratching moments when dealing with Ethiopian banks. In Ethiopioa, the typical response to a power outage is almost as predictable as a Netflix series plot twist – the diesel generator kicks in. Let me be clear: diesel generators have their place, but it’s 2025, not the 1980s.

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