Background

Energy is one very important commodity that both developed and developing nations very much rely on. The amount of energy consumed by a country is directly proportional to its level of development. Types of raw materials used for energy conversion in developed and developing nations are quite as different as their levels of development.

Ethiopia has an estimated population of 80 million out of which 85% live in the rural areas.  About 93% of the national energy consumption (2004) is the traditional biomass. It is only about 17% of the total population that has access to modern electricity. The 2004 energy consumption (petroleum and electricity) data indicates that energy per capita consumption is about 260 kWh, which is extremely small to the average value compared with other countries.

Large and medium sized hydropower exploitation is progressing at a considerable rate in Ethiopia at present, and with the expansion of the grid, the population that will have access to electricity will considerably increase. However, this massive expansion in power generation and distribution will not be sustainable unless it is supported by accelerated development of technical and managerial staff.

Moreover, unless the distribution of the generated electricity is optimized, the high losses created would be horrendous to the country’s economy. Power generation in Ethiopia, which is mainly based on hydropower, is venerable to draught when shortage of rainfall occurs. It is, therefore, necessary to support large and medium scale power generation systems with research, targeted to improve the energy mix of power generation and decrease distribution losses.

Electricity might still not be accessible from the grid to sparsely located rural communities and villages distant from the grid. Hence, other options of decentralized power generation systems have to be sought for off-grid electrification using micro hydropower, solar photovoltaic, solar steam generators, biogas and wind-power generator technologies.

The inefficient conversion of the huge quantity of fuel wood into heat in developing countries is accelerating the deforestation process. Equally serious environmental devastation is due to the exhaust gases that are the causes of greenhouse effect and acid rain.

Faculty of Technology— AAU, the leading institute in postgraduate education and research in the country, is stimulated by the above treats must enter into the picture and show its concern by introducing programmes and research that will raise the competence of the country in energy conversion, energy management and  mitigation.

Towards this goal, an Energy Center (EC) is established in the Faculty of Technology—AAU. The center is expected to coordinate: Postgraduate Studies in Energy Technology and Power Utility Management, Research and Consultancy Work on Development and Conservation of Energy Resources in collaboration with stakeholders.