Ethiopia’s Renewable Energy Potential Opens New Avenues for African Cooperation

Addis Ababa, October 19, 2026 (ENA) — Ethiopia’s renewable energy potential presents opportunities to strengthen African cooperation in agricultural productivity, cross-border electricity trade, investment and clean transport, according to Ugandan and Nigerian renewable energy representatives.

Paddy Bakengana, Senior Programs Associate at the Uganda Solar Energy Association, told ENA that Ethiopia and Uganda could expand the use of renewable energy technologies in agriculture to boost production, improve efficiency and reduce post-harvest losses.

“By the use of renewable energy, by the use of the solar water pumps, the solar dryers, we can actually increase our production,” he said.

Bakengana further highlighted the potential of solar-powered irrigation and drying technologies to support agricultural development, noting that cooperation between the two countries could help farmers adopt practical and affordable renewable energy solutions.

He also pointed to Ethiopia’s hydropower and solar resources, saying increased electricity generation could create further opportunities for regional power trade.

According to Bakengana, partnerships between renewable energy associations in Ethiopia and Uganda could facilitate technical training, knowledge exchange and joint policy advocacy to accelerate the adoption of clean energy technologies.

He further stressed the importance of improving access to financing to enable businesses to invest in renewable energy solutions for agriculture in both countries.

Meanwhile, Motunrayo Akinfala, Chief Executive Officer of the Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria (REAN), identified electric mobility as another promising area for cooperation among Ethiopia, Nigeria and other African countries.

She called for stronger partnerships to facilitate the exchange of expertise, attract investment and expand the deployment of clean energy technologies across the continent.

“What I would advise, suggest, is more collaboration between both countries, and even across African countries as a whole,” she said.

Akinfala also underscored the need to attract investors and development partners to support Ethiopia’s renewable energy development and help expand access to clean energy solutions.

The experiences shared by the Ugandan and Nigerian representatives highlight the potential for African countries to combine their technical expertise, investment capacity and renewable energy resources to support agricultural transformation, expand electricity markets and accelerate the transition to cleaner transport systems.