Bahirdar University

Institute of Technology
Faculty of Chemical and Food Engineering
Msc In Environmental Engineering
Energy and Environment

Project Work on Hydropower

By Ayele Desta ID 1401457

Submitted To: Eshetu G. (PhD.)

Contents
List of Tables .................................................................................................................................. ii
List of Acronyms ........................................................................................................................... iii
Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... iv
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 1
1.2 Objective ................................................................................................................................... 2
2. Method ........................................................................................................................................ 2
3. Hydropower ................................................................................................................................ 2
3.1 History of Hydropower ............................................................................................................. 2
3.2. Hydro power in Ethiopia ...................................................................................................... 3
3.2.1 Ethiopia hydropower potential and development status ................................................ 5
3.3 How hydropower works ........................................................................................................ 6
3.4.1Electricity Generation Principle...................................................................................... 6
3.4 Benefits of Hydropower ........................................................................................................ 7
3.4.1 The Role of Hydropower in Sustainable Development ................................................. 8
3.4.2Hydro power in renewability .......................................................................................... 9
3.5 Environmental impacts of hydropower deployment ............................................................. 9
3.5.1Green House Gas (GHG) emission of Hydropower ..................................................... 10
3.6 Cons of Hydropower ........................................................................................................... 11
3.6.1 Impact on Fish.............................................................................................................. 11
3.6.2 Limited Plant Locations ............................................................................................... 11
3.6.3Carbon and Methane Emissions.................................................................................... 11
3.6.4 Susceptible to Droughts ............................................................................................... 11
3.6.5 Flood Risk .................................................................................................................... 12
3.7 Hydropower in the Future ................................................................................................... 12
4. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 13
References ..................................................................................................................................... 15

i
List of Tables
Table 1Ethiopia’s exploitable energy potential and the percentage exploited ............................... 4
Table 2Table 2 Hydropower production potential of Ethiopia’s river basins ................................ 6
Table 3Comparisons of the time of amortization and emissions .................................................. 10
Table 4Advantages and disadvantages of the hydropower option................................................ 12

ii
List of Acronyms
GERD Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
IEA International Energy Agency
IRENA International Renewable Energy Agency

iii
Abstract
Hydropower is a renewable energy source with high efficiency and flexibility, but its
environmental impacts must be evaluated on a case-to-case basis. This paper examines the history,
benefits, and environmental impact of hydro power in Ethiopia. It is based on a review of scientific
literature, books, internet sources, and country data. Ethiopia's economic growth and prosperity
have been influenced by policies and initiatives for the development of electric power, with the
aim of fostering regional economic cooperation and integration. Interdisciplinary research is
needed to evaluate and quantify uncertainties that affect the dynamics of the hydrological system
and energy markets. The creation of tiny, mini, and micro hydropower plants to supply energy to
rural, distant, and underserved areas, as well as modernization of existing plants to improve
efficiency, are all viable options. As a findings hydropower plays great role in sustainability and
renewability since it is efficient lower emission than fossil fuel energy source and becomes the
future issue even if its own limitation.

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 1. Introduction
Energy is crucial to the improvement of social and economic conditions as well as the standard of
living in the world. However, a large portion of the world's energy is currently generated and
utilized in ways that would be unsustainable if technology remained the same and if overall
amounts significantly rose. As energy production, transmission, distribution, and consumption in
the nation become more efficient, so will the necessity to regulate air emissions of greenhouse
gases and other gases and compounds(Kaygusuz, 2009).
The socioeconomic development of a country is greatly influenced by the availability of modern
energy services, which improve living conditions and quality of life. But in our paradoxical world,
there are enough of resources but not enough energy, especially in emerging nations like sub-
Saharan Africa. More than 620 million people in the region lack access to electricity, and almost
730 million rely on unsafe, ineffective cooking methods—a dependency that disproportionately
impacts women and children. This is despite the immense energy potential of the region. Those
who do have access to modern energy, however, will still be forced to pay high costs for inadequate
and unpredictable sources(Metawie, 2007).
Compared to other energy sources, inland waters have a comparatively low energy potential. This
energy source is particularly alluring due to its comparatively high predictability and potential for
energy storage. According to historical study, it was already valued around 3000 BC. However,
written texts describing complete hydroelectric installations are from a later period(Steller, 2013).
Hydropower is thought to be the least polluting technology, however there are still some debates
and questions about how much pollution comes from water reservoirs(Beerten et al., 2009; Dones
et al., 2004; Gagnon et al., 2002).

1
1.2 Objective
1.2.1General Objective
The general objective of this paper is to understand and got general overview of Hydropower.
1.2.2 Specific objective
The specific objective of this term paper is
• to gain a general overview of the the history of hydro power energy resource
• To understand the benefits of hydro power
• To understand environmental impact and limitation of hydro power

2. Method
Descriptive type of research method is used in which secondary research is gathering information
from previously published primary research general knowledge is taken. In this term paper the title
is selected from the list of title given and secondary data from literature are gathered and the
objective become achieved and take general knowledge about hydropower.
It is is based on a review of the most recent scientific literature published in journals, books on
hydropower development, internet sources, and country data obtained from the websites of the
ministries of water, irrigation, and energy in Ethiopia as well as reports from international
organizations like the International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy
Agency (IRENA), and the World Bank.
3. Hydropower
3.1 History of Hydropower
The earliest known usage of water power was a clock that was constructed in 250 BC. Since then,
people have used falling water to generate energy for a variety of uses, including grain and saw
mills. Two years after Thomas Edison revealed the incandescent light bulb, in 1882, a waterwheel
on the Fox River in Wisconsin became the first device to use moving water to generate electricity.
Soon after, Niagara Falls' first of many hydroelectric power stations was finished. In North
America as well as other parts of the world, hydropower continues to be a significant factor in the
development of electrical service early in this century(Yuksel, 2009).
Since then, people have utilized falling water to generate electricity for hydroelectric power plants
that can produce anywhere from a few kW, which is enough to power a single home, to thousands
of MW, which can power a sizable metropolis.

2
Hydropower has been used in China for at least 2000 years. The waterwheel was created in ancient
Greece and Rome, and the Roman engineer and author Marcus Vitruvius Pollio described a grain
mill that was powered by a waterwheel and a cogwheel gear in the year 13 B.C. Later research by
archaeologists established the earliest use of such water-wheels and mill drives for field
irrigation(Hydropower Basics | Department of Energy, n.d.).
Through the Middle Ages, the range of waterwheel applications rapidly expanded. The waterwheel
was the most significant power-generation device in Europe and other parts of the world around
1500.The thousands of grain mills along the rivers, as well as hammer mills and massive bellows
for the air supply of blast furnaces and smelting ovens, were all powered by waterwheels. Elevators
were also driven by waterwheels to transport water, ore, and debris out of mines. Leonardo
DaVinci drew some images of water turbines in the 16th century that are almost identical to the
modern designs. Now one-fifth of the world's energy is produced by hydropower. In reality, it
supplies the vast bulk of the market in 55 nations. Hydropower is the sole domestic energy source
in a number of nations. Because of this, it currently plays a much larger role in electricity
generation than any other renewable energy technology, and it still has much of potential,
especially in less developed countries(Kaygusuz, 2004).
3.2. Hydro power in Ethiopia

Ethiopia, Sub-Saharan African country is rich in renewable energy sources, such as hydro, wind,
geothermal, sun, and biomass(Hailu et al., 2020). Although there is a lot of promise, the country
has one of the lowest levels of access to clean energy globally and relies heavily on biomass
energy, particularly for domestic consumption(Teferra, 2002).The percentage of households with
access to the electric grid is roughly 56%, but only about 25% of households have connectivity,
according to a 2017 report from Ethiopia's ministry of water, irrigation, and electricity (Hossain
Mondal et al., n.d.). About 87 percent of the country's entire 4,674 MW of energy production
capacity is produced by hydropower, which accounts for the majority of the electricity that is
integrated into the national system (Senshaw, 2014).
According to estimates, the country's hydroelectric resource potential is up to 45,000 MW, placing
it second only to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa(Ethiopia Energy Situation -
Energypedia, n.d.). The country's energy potential is shown in Table below along with the
proportion that has been used. Based on the projected hydropower potential, it is thought that
producing hydropower at various scales of up to 30,000 MW would be economically viable

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(Degefu et al., 2015)(Degefu et al., 2015), producing 162 TWh of electricity. However, the country
barely generates 14.29 TWh of hydroelectric power annually, or 10% of the economically viable
hydropower producing capacity of the country. This capacity is obviously insufficient to meet the
needs of a population of more than 105 million people given the country's energy resource potential
for hydroelectric power consumption(Hailu et al., 2020).
Table 1Ethiopia’s exploitable energy potential and the percentage exploited
(H & Dingeto Hailu, 2022)

The first hydropower in Ethiopia is Aba Samuel dam, which had an installed capacity of 6.6 MW
when it was commissioned in 1932, marked the beginning of the hydropower industry. After that,
the nation made little progress in the development of hydropower until the last few years, when
the building of dams experienced a huge boom(Hydropower History in Ethiopia - Google Search,
n.d.).
According Minister of Water, Irrigation, and Electricity of Ethiopia, hydropower-based
development in Ethiopia offers a pathway to economic transformation through industrialization,
urbanization, and through giving rural areas access to contemporary energy. With its significant
role in climate change mitigation at all scales, renewable energy offers one of the most efficient
solutions for advancing clean development, sustainable access, and energy security at the same
time(Blog: Hydropower Development in Ethiopia to Attain Sustainable Growth, n.d.-a).
In the past two decades, Ethiopia's economic growth and prosperity have been greatly influenced
by policies and initiatives for the development of electric power, with the ultimate objective of
fostering regional economic cooperation and integration through the additional mission of
interconnecting neighboring nations with electricity.
Due to its reliance on river runoff, a resource that depends on a climate-driven hydrological cycle,
hydropower is likewise vulnerable to climate change. Run-off is influenced by meteorological

4
factors including temperature and precipitation. Global warming will cause some regions of the
world to see higher runoff while others will experience decreased runoff, according to studies
employing global circulation.
3.2.1 Ethiopia hydropower potential and development status
Due to its extensive potential for development, environmental friendliness, and lower average cost
of electricity generated than any other energy generation technology, hydropower can act as a
bridge into a shift to more sustainable sources of energy(Supply & Sector, 2019a). The estimated
283 GW of technical hydropower potential in Africa, which could produce up to 1200 TWh
annually and represents 8% of the total technical potential worldwide, is capable of producing
electricity. 90% of the continent's hydropower potential is thought to be unrealized (H et al.,
2020)]. In 2018, 600 million people in Africa (almost half of the continent's population) lacked
access to electricity,ad and 80% of sub-Saharan African enterprises frequently faced power
outages, which had a negative financial impact. Additionally, 900 million people, or more than
70% of the population, lack access to clean cooking fuel (Energy Agency, n.d.).
Ethiopia, one of the countries of East Africa, is well recognized for having an abundance of water
resources. The country is divided into twelve river basins. Twelve river basins' combined annual
mean surface runoff is predicted to reach 124 billion cubes(Degefu et al., 2015b; Supply & Sector,
2019b). Eight of Ethiopia's twelve river basins have been identified as having the potential to
provide hydroelectric electricity. Table 2 showns the potential for producing hydropower from
Ethiopia's river basins. There are about 300 hydroelectric plant locations in those eight river basins,
including 102 large-scale (greater than 60 MW) and 198 small-scale plants (less than 40 MW[3].
Just 8.82% of Ethiopia's economically viable capacity, which is projected to be 30,000 MW, is
currently being utilized(Degefu et al., 2015b; H et al., 2020). This capacity is insufficient to meet
Ethiopia's energy needs, given the country's hydroelectric potential.
In order to meet energy demand in a variety of sectors, including agriculture, transportation,
industries, and services, as well as to contribute to the nation's socioeconomic growth, the country's
enormous hydropower resources must be fully developed.
With this knowledge, the Ethiopia has started to build a number of hydroelectric projects, including
the gigantic above 6000 MW GERD being built on the Abbay (Blue Nile) River and the 2,160
MW Gilgel Gibe IV hydropower project, with the aim of fulfilling the rising energy demand.

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Table 2Table 2 Hydropower production potential of Ethiopia’s river basins

(H & Dingeto Hailu, 2022)

3.3 How hydropower works

A typical hydroelectric plant is made up of three separate components: a power plant where
electricity is generated, a dam that may be opened or closed to regulate the flow of water, and a
reservoir where water is stored. Water from behind the dam enters through an intake and pushes
up against turbine blades, turning them. A generator is spun by the turbine to create power. How
much water is moved through the system and how far it drops determine how much energy can be
produced. Long-distance electric lines can carry the electricity to residences, factories, and
commercial buildings. Other varieties of hydropower facilities utilize a waterway's flow without a
dam(Hydropower Facts and Information, n.d.-a).
3.4.1Electricity Generation Principle
A dam or other construction that alters the natural flow of a river or other body of water is used to
generate hydropower, often known as hydroelectric power. In order to generate energy,
hydropower uses the perpetual, never-ending water cycle, which uses water as a fuel and leaves
no waste products behind. Although there are many different kinds of hydropower plants, they are
always propelled by the kinetic energy of water moving downstream. In order to turn this kinetic

6
energy into electricity, which may subsequently be used to power buildings, businesses, and other
establishments, hydropower uses turbines and generators(Hydropower Basics | Department of
Energy, n.d.).
Hydropower facilities are typically situated on or close to a water source since they use water to
produce energy. The amount of energy that may be extracted from flowing water relies on both its
volume and the elevation change, or "head," between two points. The amount of power that can
be produced increases with flow and head. At the plant level, water circulates via a pipe, also called
a penstock, which rotates a turbine's blades, which spins a generator, which generates energy.
This is how the majority of conventional hydroelectric facilities—including pumped storage and
run-of-the-river systems work(Hydropower Facts and Information, n.d.-b).
3.4 Benefits of Hydropower

Unlike other energy sources, hydropower offers certain advantages that are hard to find. The
electricity itself, which is frequently connected to reservoir development, can be blamed for these
advantages. Few would contest that hydropower's net environmental advantages greatly outweigh
those of fossil-based generating, despite recent disagreements. Implementing even half of the
remaining hydroelectric potential could have significant environmental advantages since even if it
were possible to develop all of it, It would not be possible to meet the entire projected global
demand for energy(Kaygusuz, 2004).
Hydropower, the most significant of the clean, renewable energy possibilities, is frequently one of
many advantages of a multifunctional development project for water resources. Since hydro
schemes are frequently incorporated into multipurpose development plans, they frequently support
other crucial project components. The building of a dam and the reservoir it creates typically has
a number of positive effects on human welfare, including reliable water supply, irrigation for food
production, and flood control, as well as societal advantages like increased recreational
opportunities, improved navigation, the growth of fisheries, cottage industries, etc.
The capacity to operate with no load while being synchronized with the electrical system is known
as spinning reserve.
In order to fulfil demand when loads rise, more power can be added quickly to the system.
This service can be delivered by hydropower without using additional fuel, resulting in low
emissions.

7
Non-spinning reserve, or the capacity to provide load from an off-line source to an electrical
system. Even though other energy sources are also capable of producing non-spinning reserve,
hydropower has the fastest start-up time of any energy source, requiring only a few minutes as
opposed to up to 30 minutes for other turbines and hours for steam generation.
Regulation and frequency response, often known as the capacity to adapt to sudden changes in the
system's power demand. A system's inability to adapt to variations in load or frequency results not
only in a loss of power but also in the possibility of damaging electrical equipment it is attached
to, particularly computer systems. Hydropower is particularly useful for providing control and
frequency response due to its quick response time.
Voltage support, or the capacity to manage reactive power, which ensures that power will go from
a generator to a load.
Black start capability, often known as the capacity to begin generation without an external power
source. With the help of this service, system administrators can quickly and efficiently supply
auxiliary power to increasingly complicated generation sources. Those that have access to
hydroelectric generation can resume service more quickly than systems that rely only on thermal
generating.

3.4.1 The Role of Hydropower in Sustainable Development

The crucial roles that energy and water play in sustainable development are acknowledged on a
global scale, and the World Summit on Sustainable Development placed a major emphasis on the
core objectives of ensuring adequate access to energy and water. With a huge population and a
developing economy, the globe has a great need for power that cannot be met by the current sources
of energy. Since water management and the production of renewable energy are intimately related,
the hydropower sector has a special responsibility to support sustainable development in a world
where billions of people lack access to clean drinking water and sufficient energy sources.
However, despite the fact that 1.1 billion people lack access to acceptable water supplies and that
nearly 1.6 billion people lack access to electricity, there are abundant resources for the
development of hydropower all over the world. Around 150 countries have potential, and 70% of
it is economically possible and needs to be developed, mostly in developing nations where needs
are most pressing(World Commission on Dams (WCD) Report - Energypedia, n.d.). Hydropower
preserves this vital resource for other applications by not consuming or polluting the water it uses

8
to produce energy. (Kaygusuz, 2009)The income made from selling energy can also be used to
pay for other infrastructure that is vital to the welfare of people. This can apply to infrastructures
that improve navigation, irrigation plans for agricultural production, recreational facilities, and
ecotourism.
3.4.2Hydro power in renewability
The ability to plan generating is one of the main benefits of hydropower, depending on the storage
capacity involved. Run-of-the-river methods can be used to generate "base load" continuously.
As a result, hydropower can significantly increase efficiency in a mixed-fuel power system,
lowering emissions from fossil-fuel plants and supporting sporadic sources like wind energy. The
advantages and disadvantages of hydropower are both well-known after more than a century of
use(Gürbüz, 2006).
Representatives from more than 170 nations came to an agreement in the past two years, first at
the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg (2002) and again at the Third
World Water Forum in Kyoto, to declare all hydropower to be renewable and deserving of
international assistance (2003)(IHA (2003).
Hydropower demonstrates outstanding performance in the service it provides within the
electricity supply system: (Gürbüz, 2006)
High reliability: Hydropower is a well-known and well-understood technology with over a
century of history. The lowest operating expenses and the longest plan lifetimes are found in its
systems.
High efficiency: The most effective method of energy conversion is offered by hydropower, While
the most efficient fossil fuel plants are only 60% efficient, but modern hydropower plants can
convert more than 95% of the energy of moving water into electricity.
High flexibility: Hydropower plants in contrast may, depending on their design, provide electricity
for base or for peak demand, or both. This flexibility in energy supply is one of the specific
technical advantages of hydropower, diesel and natural gas.
3.5 Environmental impacts of hydropower deployment

Despite the growing importance of hydropower as a necessary renewable option in the global
energy landscape, it nevertheless has advantages and disadvantages on an environmental and
socioeconomic level, just like any other energy source. The type and size of the hydropower plant,
as well as site-specific variables, have a significant impact on the impact's nature and scope(Pichs-

9
Madruga et al., 2011). This indicates that affects on local communities must be evaluated "on a
case-to-case basis"(Botelho et al., 2017); as a result, it becomes more difficult to pinpoint the
impacts that are truly significant. Therefore, a cross-referenced comparison approach is
recommended to attain this goal, and the literature on the economic valuation of hydropower
environmental impacts can also be grouped according to the type of environmental impacts taken
into account and the technique employed. Renewable energy is thought to have less of an impact
on the environment than conventional energy sources, which are non-renewable energy sources
derived from fossil fuels (oil derivatives, coal, and natural gas). In this regard, Ferreira et
al.(Ferreira et al., 2016) have highlighted small hydropower projects' (SHP) significant
contribution to sustainability through the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through
the generation of low carbon power. But it's important to remember that RES also have certain
environmental effects of their own. Environmental effects of hydropower are widely linked in the
literature to biodiversity reduction, effects on wildlife and flora, landscape alteration, water
resource impacts, destruction of historical artifacts, and visual effects(Loomis, 1996; Policy &
2010, 2009).
3.5.1Green House Gas (GHG) emission of Hydropower
Comparing hydropower to other large-scale energy sources, hydropower emits incredibly little
greenhouse gas as the table shown below. Dams and reservoirs can also aid in water management
during floods and droughts by holding water during rainy seasons and releasing it during dry ones.
These crucial operations safeguard lives and other valuables. As a result of global warming, which
indicates a greater fluctuation in precipitation frequency and intensity, this will become more and
more significant. Hydropower plants, on the other hand, do not export effects like acid rain or air
pollution. Changes in the watershed where the dam is situated are the only environmental effects.
When properly handled, these modifications occasionally lead to improvements while also
reducing some negative effects (IHA (2003).
Table 3Comparisons of the time of amortization and emissions

10
3.6 Cons of Hydropower

3.6.1 Impact on Fish

A running water source needs to be dammed in order to build a hydroelectric plant. This hinders
fish from travelling to their spawning grounds, which has an impact on any animal that consumes
those fish. The habitats beside rivers start to disappear as the water stops flowing. Even animals
may be prevented from accessing water by this (Advantages and Disadvantages of Hydroelectric
Energy, n.d.).
3.6.2 Limited Plant Locations
Although hydropower is renewable, there aren't many locations in the world that are suitable to
construct plants. Additionally, some of these locations are far from big cities that may reap the full
benefits of the energy.
3.6.3Carbon and Methane Emissions
Even though the plant does not produce emissions during the actual energy producing process, the
reservoirs they build do produce emissions. The plant at the bottom of a reservoir starts to
deteriorate. Additionally, as plants expire, they emit a lot of carbon and methane(Hertwich, 2013).
3.6.4 Susceptible to Droughts
The availability of water at any particular area affects hydropower generation. Thus, a drought
may have a big impact on how well a hydro plant operates. This could happen more frequently as
global warming intensifies. Because it depends on river runoff, a resource that is reliant on a
hydrological cycle dictated by climate, hydropower is likewise vulnerable to climate change.
Rainfall and temperature are two meteorological factors that affect run-off.According to studies
employing global circulation, runoff will change around the globe as a result of global warming,

11
with some regions of the world experiencing higher runoff and others seeing less runoff(Blog:
Hydropower Development in Ethiopia to Attain Sustainable Growth, n.d.-b).
3.6.5 Flood Risk
Any settlement nearby that is below the dam faces a major risk when dams are constructed at
greater elevations. Despite the strength of the dams' construction, there are still dangers. The
Banqiao Dam failure is the biggest dam disaster in recorded history. The dam broke because of
excessive rainfall brought on by a typhoon. As a result, 171,000 people perished(Typhoon Nina–
Banqiao Dam Failure | Chinese History [1975] | Britannica, n.d.).
Table 4Advantages and disadvantages of the hydropower option
(Yuksel, 2010).

3.7 Hydropower in the Future

The most significant impact of climate change on hydropower is a decrease in output, however
because of its low carbon emissions, this hydropower energy source may benefit from climate
policy. Hydropower satisfies the requirements of sustainable development and ought to dominate
the mix of electricity in the future. Demand side management and the smoothing out of the daily

12
load through the integration of renewable energy produced in various regions may lessen the need
for energy. To evaluate and quantify the uncertainties that affect the dynamics of the hydrological
system and energy markets, interdisciplinary research is required. The market structure, price
development on the spot, future, balancing, the markets, as well as the creation of "new storage
technologies" to be deployed close to crucial grid points or consumption hubs, all affect the value
of hydropower. The "preferential right" granted to national or regional utilities in the past should
be eliminated to prevent discrimination against other world operators for the future in some
countries where water concessions or authorizations would soon expire(Gaudard & Romerio,
2014).

4. Conclusion
Finally, we can conclude that, there is a need to create new, more sustainable environmental
planning and policy frameworks that incorporate social and ecological issues in the world. With
the help of rural societies, these social ecological techniques would develop and implement long-
term rehabilitation initiatives to repair aquatic habitats destroyed by hydropower projects. In
addition to reducing GHG emissions, hydropower also helps in climate change adaptation through
water storage. Energy and water are crucial for reducing poverty. Climate change makes this issue
more urgent, and hydropower is a critical component of the solution for many nations. The world
is seeing a sharp rise in the construction of new hydroelectric reservoirs as a result of growing
demands for reliable supplies of water for drinking, irrigation, and electric power. Renewable
energy promises a better, safer, and cleaner future for this and future generations by holistically
advancing our shared objectives of economic growth, social development, energy security, and
environmental protection.
First steps toward improvement have been taken. It will be difficult to put renewable energy
solutions into effect on a national level in a society where institutional, industrial, financial, and
governmental systems are primarily built around the production and consumption of fossil fuels.
Power supply is the industry that requires the most capital on a worldwide basis. Energy has a
critical role in every sector of the economy and every facet of societal growth. With a sizable
population and a developing economy, Ethiopia has a great need for power that cannot be met by
the current power sources. The creation of tiny, mini, and micro hydropower plants to supply
energy to rural, distant, and underserved areas, as well as the modernization of existing

13
hydropower plants to improve efficiency, are all viable options at the same time. These new and
current hydropower projects can be developed, renovated, or rehabilitated to produce a
considerable amount more clean and renewable electricity. In Ethiopia, hydropower is the main
source of renewable energy.
The production of hydropower does not contribute to atmospheric emissions, which are becoming
more of a problem on both a national and international scale. Various hydro power plants, notably
the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) at various levels, have been developed in Ethiopia
so far for the aim of producing hydroelectric energy.
The creation of tiny, mini, and micro hydropower plants to supply energy to rural, distant, and
underserved areas, as well as the modernization of existing hydropower plants to improve
efficiency, are all viable options at the same time. It is possible to produce a sizable amount of
additional clean and renewable energy capacity through the development, renovation, and
rehabilitation of these new and existing hydropower projects. The world's largest producer of
renewable energy is hydropower. Hydropower generating Because they have an inherent interest
in enhancing their own energy generation profiles, it is impractical for hydropower developers
private or public to advocate for solutions for the best water management techniques.

14
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