Eritrea

Three structures erected as tall as 18 meters high in the clear skies of Northeast Assab, turbulently spinning by the strong wind regime of the Southern Red Sea. These turbines constituting the Assab Wind Farm, generates a power of 750KW, covering about 20% of the town’s current need for electricity. With the generation of a renewable-based cleaner energy, the inhabitants have started enjoying access of longer hours to electricity, and benefiting better ventilation and cooling services.

Installation of small wind turbines in the small fishing coastal villages of Edi, Berasole, Gahro and Rahayta is near completing. Support structures are erected; turbines are fixed and readied for final assembly. Strong windy conditions through the months of March to June has been deterring final placement of the turbines onto the structures. Nevertheless, final installation, operationalization and commissioning of electricity by the village based wind turbines will be soon in action, in no longer than July/August.

In the extreme hot and challenging climatic regimes of the Eritrean coastal region, accessibility of potable water for drinking is invariably salient for the survival of any living creature. Doran Ali Osman, administrator of Rahaita village marked the importance of a reliable water supply as an undisputed priority. He is adequately aware, and started reaping of renewable energy technology benefits from a solar Photo-Voltaic (PV) from intervention by other development agencies. Encouraged by the availability of strong, continuous and dense winds in the area, he is confident enough that the GEF/UNDP/Government funded wind energy project will undoubtedly contribute to the ease of chronic water shortages in the village. In addition to the use for water pumping purposes, social services will be promoted such as access as to lighting, class room ventilation in schools and refrigeration of perishable products in households among which is their daily fish catch.

Mr. Mohammed Saleh, Administrator of the Berasole town as well expressed his expectations; the wind energy prospect to tackle some of the livelihood related lacking services. At the same time he didn’t also hide his wish for an expanded scale of the project with a capacity that can activate the stalled fish processing plant existing in the village. It is a noble idea that up scaling of the decentralized system in the village can replace the diesel based generator which would support solving acute deficiency of ice supply for fishermen, and enable the fish processing plant to operate at cost effective bills, thus encourage intensified fishing.

Generally the pilot wind energy applications project will in total enable the government to make a saving of USD 747,000/year that would have been spent to import diesel and oil lubricants. In addition, it abates a total emission of 1701Tons/year of CO2 that could negatively influence the impacts of climate change. Furthermore, the project secures health related side-benefits such as prevention of respiratory illness and other diseases caused by the effects of indoor air pollution from traditional fuels and kerosene directly contribute to infant and child mortality.

In conclusion the project has accrued success that can be measured with double-dividend standards; an array of national and local socioeconomic benefits that goes from reducing fossil based importation to improving livelihoods of targeted communities under the project horizon. On the other hand, instrumental in creating an enabling environment and barrier removal by raising awareness, testing technical viability and building national capacity to design, implement and operationalize the cutting edge wind energy technology. Thus, it is time the government and its development partners seize the opportunity, and by capitalizing upon success achieved make meaningful contribution to the fight against poverty, and support Eritrea to dwell in the paths of sustainable development. This is all possible with the varying magnitude wind available of in the different geographic regions of the country.