Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Linking solar and wind power in eastern Africa with operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

Abstract

Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt are currently embroiled in a politically charged conflict that surrounds the soon-to-be-completed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), with Ethiopia’s energy objectives purportedly conflicting with the water needs in Sudan and Egypt. Here we show that the multiple political and environmental challenges that surround GERD could be mitigated by explicitly coupling its operation to variable solar and wind power, which would create an incentive for Ethiopia to retain a seasonality in the Blue Nile flow. We found that this could deliver fivefold benefits across the three countries: decarbonizing power generation in the Eastern Africa Power Pool; allowing compliance with Sudan’s environmental flow needs; optimizing GERD’s infrastructure use; harmonizing the yearly refilling schedules of GERD and Egypt’s High Aswan Dam; and supporting a strong diversification of Ethiopian power generation for domestic use and for Eastern Africa Power Pool exports. These results argue for an explicit integration of complementary hydro, solar and wind power strategies in GERD operation and Eastern Africa Power Pool expansion planning.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Fig. 1: Hydro, solar and wind power in the Blue Nile countries.
Fig. 2: Load following with GERD and VRE.
Fig. 3: GERD outflow, environmental flow deficit and hydroturbine use.
Fig. 4: Coordinated GERD–HAD operation.
Fig. 5: Cross-border electricity exchanges between Ethiopia and Sudan enabled by joint GERD–VRE operation.
Fig. 6: Ethiopian power mix by 2030.

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The map in Fig. 1a was created using QGIS, which can be downloaded from http://qgis.osgeo.org/. The river shapefiles in Fig. 1a are available from Chawanda et al.55, as are the SWAT+ simulation results. The country shapefiles in Fig. 1a are available from https://gadm.org/data.html. Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment—Africa data are available at http://cordex.org/data-access/esgf. EWEMBI forcing data can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.5880/pik.2019.004. Data related to solar PV yield were obtained from the Global Solar Atlas 2.0 (ref. 37), a free, web-based application developed and operated by the company Solargis s.r.o. on behalf of the World Bank Group, utilizing Solargis data, with funding provided by the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP). Additional information is available via https://globalsolaratlas.info. Data related to wind turbine yield were obtained from the Global Wind Atlas 3.0 (ref. 38), a free, web-based application developed, owned and operated by the Technical University of Denmark. The Global Wind Atlas 3.0 is released in partnership with the World Bank Group, utilizing data provided by Vortex, using funding provided by the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP). Additional information is available via https://globalwindatlas.info. Source data for all Figures are provided in spreadsheet files along with this paper, containing the raw data used to create the plots.

Code availability

The REVUB model code is available at https://github.com/VUB-HYDR/REVUB under the MIT license, for Python as well as MATLAB. All data used to run the REVUB simulations and perform other calculations can be obtained from the authors upon request.

References

  1. Roussi, A. Nations clash over giant Nile dam. Nature 574, 159–160 (2019).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Stokstad, E. Power play on the Nile. Science 351, 904–907 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Cascão, A. E. & Nicol, A. GERD: new norms of cooperation in the Nile Basin? Water Int. 41, 550–573 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Wheeler, K. G. et al. Cooperative filling approaches for the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Water Int. 41, 611–634 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Whittington, D., Waterbury, J. & Jeuland, M. The Grand Renaissance Dam and prospects for cooperation on the Eastern Nile. Water Policy 14, 595–608 (2014).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. van der Zwaan, B., Boccalon, A. & Dalla Longa, F. Prospects for hydropower in Ethiopia: an energy–water nexus analysis. Energy Strategy Reviews 19, 19 – 30 (2018).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Alrajoula, M. T., Al Zayed, I. S., Elagib, N. A. & Hamdi, M. R. Hydrological, socio-economic and reservoir alterations of Er Roseires Dam in Sudan. Sci. Total Environ. 566–567, 938–948 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Ayana, E. K. & Srinivasan, R. in Extreme Hydrology and Climate Variability (eds Melesse, A. M., Abtew, W. & Senay, G.) 137–149 (Elsevier, 2019).

  9. Tawfik, R. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam: a benefit-sharing project in the Eastern Nile? Water Int. 41, 574–592 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Michaelson, R. ‘It’ll cause a water war’: divisions run deep as filling of Nile dam nears. The Guardian (23 April 2020); https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/apr/23/itll-cause-a-water-war-divisions-run-deep-as-filling-of-nile-dam-nears

  11. Sudan rejects Ethiopia proposal to sign Nile mega-dam agreement. Al Jazeera News (13 May 2020); https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/sudan-rejects-ethiopia-proposal-sign-nile-mega-dam-agreement-200513065649833.html

  12. Abd Ellah, R. G. Water resources in Egypt and their challenges, Lake Nasser case study. Egyptian J. Aquat. Res. 46, 1 – 12 (2020).

    Google Scholar 

  13. El-Shirbeny, M. A. & Abutaleb, K. A. Monitoring of water-level fluctuation of Lake Nasser using altimetry satellite data. Earth Syst. Environ. 2, 367–375 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. International Crisis Group Bridging the Gap in the Nile Waters Dispute Report No. 271 (Crisis Group Africa, 2019); https://www.crisisgroup.org/africa/horn-africa/ethiopia/271-bridging-gap-nile-waters-dispute

  15. Moussa, A. M. A. Dynamic operation rules of multi-purpose reservoir for better flood management. Alex. Eng. J. 57, 1665 – 1679 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Mulat, A. G., Moges, S. A. & Moges, M. A. Evaluation of multi-storage hydropower development in the upper Blue Nile River (Ethiopia): regional perspective. J. Hydrol. Regional Stud. 16, 1–14 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. RES4Africa & ENEL Foundation Integration of Variable Renewable Energy in the National Electric System of Ethiopia (RES4Africa, Ethiopian Electric Power, ENEL Foundation & CESI, 2019); https://www.res4africa.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Integration-of-variable-renewable-energy-in-the-national-electric-system-of-Ethiopia.pdf

  18. Liersch, S., Koch, H. & Hatterman, F. F. Management scenarios of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and their impacts under recent and future climates. Water 9, 728 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Toktarova, A., Gruber, L., Hlusiak, M., Bogdanov, D. & Breyer, C. Long term load projection in high resolution for all countries globally. Int. J. Elec. Power Energy Syst. 111, 160–181 (2019).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Demissie, A. A. & Solomon, A. Power system sensitivity to extreme hydrological conditions as studied using an integrated reservoir and power system dispatch model, the case of Ethiopia. Appl. Energy 182, 442–463 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Allam, M. M. & Eltahir, E. A. B. Water–energy–food nexus sustainability in the Upper Blue Nile (UBN) basin. Front. Environ. Sci. 7, 5 (2019).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Cascão, A. E. & Nicol, A. in Land and Hydropolitics in the Nile River Basin: Challenges and New Investments (eds Sandstrom, E., Jagerskog, A. & Oestigaard, T.) Ch. 6 (Taylor & Francis, 2016).

  23. Vanderkelen, I., van Lipzig, N. P. M. & Thiery, W. Modelling the water balance of Lake Victoria (East Africa)—Part 1: observational analysis. Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 22, 5509–5525 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Jägermeyr, J., Pastor, A., Biemans, H. & Gerten, D. Reconciling irrigated food production with environmental flows for sustainable development goals implementation. Nat. Commun. 8, 15900 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Moran, E. F., Lopez, M. C., Moore, N., Müller, N. & Hyndman, D. W. Sustainable hydropower in the 21st century. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 115, 11891–11898 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Reitberger, B., McCartney, M. & Melesse, A. M. E. Concepts of Environmental Flow Assessment and Challenges in the Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia pp 337–358 (Springer Netherlands, 2011).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  27. Allan, J. R. et al. Navigating the complexities of coordinated conservation along the river Nile. Sci. Adv. 5, eaau7668 (2019).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Sterl, S. et al. Smart renewable electricity portfolios in West Africa. Nat. Sust. 3, 710–719 (2020).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Engeland, K. et al. Space–time variability of climate variables and intermittent renewable electricity production—a review. Renew. Sust. Energy Rev. 79, 600–617 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Mondal, M. A. H., Bryan, E., Ringler, C. & Rosegrant, M. Ethiopian power sector development: renewable based universal electricity access and export strategies. Renew. Sust. Energy Rev. 75, 11–20 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Bruder, A. et al. A conceptual framework for hydropeaking mitigation. Sci. Total Environ. 568, 1204–1212 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Deutsches Geodätisches Forschungsinstitut Database for Hydrological Time Series of Inland Waters (DAHITI). Nasser, Lake Water Level (Technische Universität München, 2020); https://dahiti.dgfi.tum.de/en/map/

  33. Sutcliffe, J. & Parks, Y. The Hydrology of the Nile Special Publication no. 5 (International Association of Hydrological Sciences, 1999); http://www.hydrosciences.fr/sierem/Bibliotheque/biblio/hydrology%20of%20the%20Nile.pdf

  34. Walsh, D. & Sengupta, S. For thousands of years, Egypt controlled the Nile. A new dam threatens that. The New York Times (9 February 2020); https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/02/09/world/africa/nile-river-dam.html

  35. Remy, T. & Chattopadhyay, D. Promoting better economics, renewables and CO2 reduction through trade: a case study for the Eastern Africa Power Pool. Energy Sust. Dev. 57, 81 – 97 (2020).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Bogdanov, D. et al. Radical transformation pathway towards sustainable electricity via evolutionary steps. Nat. Commun. 10, 1077 (2019).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Global Solar Atlas version 2.2 (World Bank Group, ESMAP, and SolarGIS, 2020); https://globalsolaratlas.info/

  38. Global Wind Atlas version 3.0 (World Bank Group, ESMAP, Technical University of Denmark and Vortex, 2020); https://globalwindatlas.info/

  39. Gallucci, M. South Sudan is building its electric grid virtually from scratch. IEEE Spectrum (13 March 2020); https://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/energy/policy/south-sudan-rebuilding-grid-from-scratch

  40. Abbink, J. Dam controversies: contested governance and developmental discourse on the Ethiopian Omo River dam. Social Anthropol. 20, 125–144 (2012).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Müller-Mahn, D. & Gebreyes, M. Controversial Connections: the water–energy–food Nexus in the Blue Nile Basin of Ethiopia. Land 8, 135 (2019).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Ansar, A., Flyvbjerg, B., Budzier, A. & Lunn, D. Should we build more large dams? The actual costs of hydropower megaproject development. Energy Policy 69, 43–56 (2014).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Zeng, R., Cai, X., Ringler, C. & Zhu, T. Hydropower versus irrigation: an analysis of global patterns. Environ. Res. Lett. 12, 034006 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Barasa, M., Bogdanov, D., Oyewo, A. S. & Breyer, C. A cost optimal resolution for sub-Saharan Africa powered by 100% renewables in 2030. Renew. Sust. Energy Rev. 92, 440–457 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Global Landscape of Renewable Energy Finance (IRENA, 2018); https://www.irena.org/publications/2018/Jan/Global-Landscape-of-Renewable-Energy-Finance

  46. Sterl, S., Liersch, S., Koch, H., van Lipzig, N. P. & Thiery, W. A new approach for assessing synergies of solar and wind power: implications for West Africa. Environ. Res. Lett. 13, 094009 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Spyrou, E., Hobbs, B. F., Bazilian, M. D. & Chattopadhyay, D. Planning power systems in fragile and conflict-affected states. Nat. Energy 4, 300–310 (2019).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Siam, M. S. & Eltahir, E. A. B. Climate change enhances interannual variability of the Nile river flow. Nat. Clim. Change 7, 350–354 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Conway, D., Dalin, C., Landman, W. A. & Osborn, T. J. Hydropower plans in eastern and southern Africa increase risk of concurrent climate-related electricity supply disruption. Nat. Energy 2, 946–953 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Conway, D. Future Nile river flows. Nat. Clim. Change 7, 319–320 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Liersch, S. et al. Are we using the right fuel to drive hydrological models? A climate impact study in the Upper Blue Nile. Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 22, 2163–2185 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Lange, S. EartH2Observe, WFDEI and ERA-Interim data Merged and Bias-corrected for ISIMIP (EWEMBI) (GFZ Data Services, 2016); http://dataservices.gfz-potsdam.de/pik/showshort.php?id=escidoc:1809891

  53. Welsch, M. et al. Incorporating flexibility requirements into long-term energy system models—a case study on high levels of renewable electricity penetration in Ireland. Appl. Energy 135, 600–615 (2014).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Planning for the Renewable Future: Long-Term Modelling and Tools to Expand Variable Renewable Power in Emerging Economies (IRENA, 2017); https://www.irena.org/publications/2017/Jan/Planning-for-the-renewable-future-Long-term-modelling-and-tools-to-expand-variable-renewable-power

  55. Chawanda, C. J., van Griensven, A., Thiery, W., Sterl, S. & Vanderkelen, I. SWAT+ simulation result used in ‘Smart renewable electricity portfolios in West Africa’. Zenodo https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3580663 (2019).

  56. IPOE on Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Project (GERDP) (IPOE, 2013). https://www.internationalrivers.org/sites/default/files/attached-files/international_panel_of_experts_for_ethiopian_renaissance_dam-_final_report_1.pdf

  57. Power generation capacity of GERD slashed to 5150 MW—Ethiopian Minister. Ezega News (17 October 2019); https://www.ezega.com/News/NewsDetails/7331/Power-Generation-Capacity-of-GERD-Slashed-to-5150MW-Ethiopian-Minister

  58. Ethiopia dismisses reports of capacity reduction of GERD. Ezega News (15 October 2019). https://www.ezega.com/News/NewsDetails/7321/Ethiopia-Dismisses-Reports-of-Capacity-Reduction-of-GERD

  59. Zelalem, Z. Ethiopia and Egypt are pushing each other to the brink in a battle for control on the river Nile. Quartz Africa (31 May 2020). https://qz.com/africa/1862962/ethiopia-egypt-battle-for-river-nile-grand-dam-without-trump/

  60. Current List of Hydropower Plants (Global Energy Observatory, accessed on 3 April 2020); http://globalenergyobservatory.org/

  61. Kaveh, K., Hosseinjanzadeh, H. & Hosseini, K. A new equation for calculation of reservoir’s area–capacity curves. KSCE J. Civil Eng. 17, 1149–1156 (2013).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. Belissa, A. Establishing optimal reservoir operation of Fincha’a–Amerty Reservoirs. MSc thesis, Addis Ababa Univ. (2016); http://etd.aau.edu.et/bitstream/handle/123456789/9223/Amayou%20Belissa.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

  63. Beyene, A. A. Soil erosion risk assessment in Nashe Dam Reservoir using remote sensing, GIS and RUSLE model techniques in Horro Guduru Wollega Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. J. Civil. Constr. Environ. Eng. 4, 1–18 (2019).

    Google Scholar 

  64. Tekeze Inauguration Bulletin. Overview of Tekeze Hydroelectric Power Plant (2009); http://www.ethiopianreview.com/pdf/001/TEKEZE%20INAGURATION%20BULLETIN.pdf

  65. Basheer, M., Sulieman, R. & Ribbe, L. Exploring management approaches for water and energy in the data-scarce Tekeze–Atbara Basin under hydrologic uncertainty. Int. J. Water Resour. Develop 137, 182–207 (2021).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  66. Bosona, T. G. & Gebresenbet, G. Modeling hydropower plant system to improve its reservoir operation. Int. J. Water Resour. Environ. Eng. 2, 88–95 (2010).

    Google Scholar 

  67. Abdi, T. G. Participatory evaluation and verification of improved post harvest fishery technologies on selected sites of Oromia water bodies. Fish. Aquacult. J. 5, 090 (2013).

    Google Scholar 

  68. Bosona, T. G. Reservoir Operational Planning for Melka Wakena Hydropower Scheme. MSc thesis, Arba Minch Univ. (2004); http://196.189.45.74/NADRE/1/92/doc00056320170608073652part1CCdoc00056420170608073919part2Co.pdf

  69. Ilolo, P. Ethiopia inaugurates Genale Dawa III hydroelectric power plant. Construction Review Online (21 February 2020); https://constructionreviewonline.com/2020/02/ethiopia-inaugurates-genale-dawa-iii-hydroelectric-power-plant/

  70. Genale Dawa (GD3) Multipurpose Hydropower Project Ethiopia (Stantec, 2017); https://britishdams.org/assets/meeting-files/GD3BDS-FinalR1.pdf

  71. Studio Pietrangeli Gilgel Gibe Hydropower (Ethiopia) https://www.pietrangeli.com/gilgel-gibe-rockfill-dam-with-bituminous-facing-ethiopia-africa

  72. Ambelu, A., Lock, K. & Goethals, P. L. Hydrological and anthropogenic influence in the Gilgel Gibe I reservoir (Ethiopia) on macroinvertebrate assemblages. Lake Reserv. Manage. 29, 143–150 (2013).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  73. Gilgel Gibe II Hydroelectric Project—Environmental Impact Assessment (Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation, 2004); https://www.eib.org/attachments/pipeline/1119_eia_en.pdf

  74. Salini Impregilo Gilgel Gibe II 420 MW https://www.salini-impregilo.com/en/projects/dams-hydroelectric-plants/impianto-idroelettrico-gilgel-gibe-ii03

  75. Salini Impregilo Gibe III Hydroelectric Project https://www.salini-impregilo.com/en/projects/dams-hydroelectric-plants/gibe-iii-hydroelectric-project

  76. Zoppis, E., Cagiano, A., Pietrangeli, A., Pittalis, G. & Rossini, C. Design and Operation of Gibe III Power Waterways. In Hydro 2018 (Hydropower and Dams, 2018); https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328784103_Design_and_Operation_of_Gibe_III_Power_waterways

  77. Belete, M. A. Modeling and Analysis of Lake Tana Sub Basin Water Resources Systems, Ethiopia PhD thesis, Univ. Rostock (2013); http://rosdok.uni-rostock.de/file/rosdok_disshab_0000001204/rosdok_derivate_0000014925/Dissertation_Belete_2014.pdf

  78. McCartney, M., Alemayehu, T., Shiferaw, A. & Awulachew, S. B. Evaluation of current and future water resources development in the Lake Tana Basin, Ethiopia Research Report 134 (IWMI, 2009); https://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/Publications/IWMI_Research_Reports/PDF/PUB134/RR134.pdf

  79. Müller, R., Gebretsadik, H. & Schütze, N. Towards an optimal integrated reservoir system management for the Awash River Basin, Ethiopia. In 7th International Water Resources Management Conference (ICWRS, 2016); https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/IWRM2016/IWRM2016-95-2.pdf

  80. Mohamed, Y. A., Savenije, H. H. G., Bastiaanssen, W. G. M. & van den Hurk, B. J. J. M. New lessons on the Sudd hydrology learned from remote sensing and climate modeling. Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 10, 507–518 (2006).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  81. Sutcliffe, J. & Brown, E. Water losses from the Sudd. Hydrol. Sci. J. 63, 527–541 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  82. Oyerinde, G. T. Quantifying uncertainties in modeling climate change impacts on hydropower production. Climate 4, 34 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  83. Liersch, S. et al. Water resources planning in the Upper Niger River basin: are there gaps between water demand and supply? J. Hydrol. Regional Stud. 21, 176 – 194 (2019).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  84. Sudan—Renewable Energy Country Profile (RCREEE, 2012); https://www.rcreee.org/sites/default/files/sudan_fact_sheet_print.pdf

  85. National Energy Grid Map—Sudan (Global Energy Network Institute, 2017); https://www.geni.org/globalenergy/library/national_energy_grid/sudan/index.shtml

  86. Vestas V100-1.8 (Vestas, 2017); https://en.wind-turbine-models.com/turbines/1002-vestas-v100-1.8

  87. Badger, J., Hahmann, A. N., Volker, P. J. H. & Hansen, J. C. Interim Mesoscale Wind Modelling Report for Ethiopia (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank, 2016). http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/677431482226772810/pdf/111162-ESM-P151309-PUBLIC-EthiopiaWindMappingMesoscaleModelingReportFeb.pdf

  88. Solar Photovoltaic Power Potential by Country (World Bank, accessed 25 August 2020); https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/energy/publication/solar-photovoltaic-power-potential-by-country?cid=eae_tt_energy_en_ext

Download references

Acknowledgements

S.S., S.L., H.K. and W.T. acknowledge research funding from the project CIREG (Climate Information for Integrated Renewable Electricity Generation), which is part of ERA4CS, an ERA-NET Co-fund action initiated by JPI Climate, funded by BMBF (Germany), FORMAS (Sweden), BELSPO (Belgium) and IFD (Denmark) with co-funding from the European Union’s Horizon2020 Framework Program (Grant 690462). D.F. acknowledges research funding from the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO contract 202810/1255221N). We thank A. van Griensven and I. Weerasinghe (VUB) for inspiring discussions and advice, C. J. Chawanda (VUB) for his help with the SWAT+ simulations and A. Devillers (IRENA & Mines ParisTech) for her review of the collected technical hydropower plant data. This work would not have been possible without the help of an anonymous Ethiopian expert and personal friend of S.S., for whose support in the conception, drafting and revision of the paper we are deeply grateful. We do not agree with, or endorse in any way, colonial-era agreements on water allocations between Nile countries.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

S.S. conceived the study, collected the data, carried out the simulations and analysed the results. S.L. and H.K. provided the GERD bathymetry data. S.S. wrote the paper and designed the figures with contributions from D.F., S.L., H.K. and W.T.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sebastian Sterl.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Peer review information Nature Energy thanks Ana Elisa Cascão, Harald Kling, Yacob Mulugetta and the other, anonymous, reviewer(s) for their contribution to the peer review of this work.

Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary information

Supplementary Information

Supplementary Notes 1–8, Figs. 1-8 and Tables 1–3.

Source data

Source Data Fig. 1

Statistical source data (model input).

Source Data Fig. 2

Statistical source data (model output).

Source Data Fig. 3

Statistical source data (model output).

Source Data Fig. 4

Statistical source data (model output).

Source Data Fig. 5

Statistical source data (model output).

Source Data Fig. 6

Statistical source data (model output).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sterl, S., Fadly, D., Liersch, S. et al. Linking solar and wind power in eastern Africa with operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Nat Energy 6, 407–418 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-021-00799-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-021-00799-5

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing