1.1 Background of the Study

Wind power is the flow rate of kinetic energy carried by moving air [21].Wind power is expected to be one of the main contributors to a worldwide and sustainable energy system. It was already one of the most affordable sources of new electricity by 2015, and it could provide in large quantities. Over the course of a wind farm's existence, wind power, as it is often acquired, enables consistent electricity production prices, avoiding the increasing volatility in fuel prices [3].

By 2018, wind energy in Africa had increased from 0.74 GW (GW) in 2009 to 5.5 GW, a 740% increase. This has been made possible by ongoing cost reductions, advanced technologies, and political commitment. Despite having competitive costs and speeds capable of establishing utility-scale wind farms, Africa had erected only around 1% of its expected wind capacity as of 2018.Between 2010 and 2019, the average cost of LCOE for wind in Africa decreased by 30%, from US cents 10 per kWh to 7 per kWh. Furthermore, the development of wind energy across the continent is intermittent and disproportionately concentrated in southern and northern Africa[2].For the past 20 years, modern wind turbines have been utilized to efficiently harness the wind, and the technology is well-established, dependable, and efficient [27]. The use of wind turbines to generate energy has grown recently as a result of technological improvement, stable pricing, and environmental concerns [16]. To meet the rising energy demand and ensure sustainable growth, Ethiopia plans to employ wind power plants in addition to its current hydropower facilities. Consequently, EEPCO's (Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation) system will incorporate large-scale wind farms [4]. Ethiopia would need to make investments in the creation of other energy sources to deal with the effects of the drought on the generation of hydroelectric electricity[10].

Ethiopia has historically generated most of its electricity from hydropower, but it now wants to diversify its energy mix from other renewable sources to boost climate resilience. As a result, the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) has outlined plans to create 5,200 MW of new wind energy through the private sector, specifically through Independent Power Producers [24].In Ethiopia, a major obstacle to more widespread adoption of alternative energy sources including solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass electrical energy is the upfront capital investment required. To increase the availability of electricity in rural areas where renewable resources abound but financial resources are scarce; the best course of action in Ethiopia would be to offer financial incentives to cooperative, household, or private organizations to utilize sustainable resources. Capital subsidies and other related policies should focus on lowering the costs of initial capital investments to produce alternative renewable resources similar to hydroelectric power in price[19]So, this study is intended to review the potential of wind power energy, utilization level, challenges and opportunities in Ethiopia

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Wind energy is among the most affordable sources of renewable energy, with significant annual growth in installed capacities all over the world[17].Wind energy is a capital-intensive technology, with permanent assets (wind turbines, grid connections, and civil works) accounting for up to 80% of the total cost. Operations and maintenance (O&M) account for another 10% of expenditures, but because so few wind turbines are at the end of their useful lifespan, any analysis' accuracy is severely limited [8].African states generally lack specific renewable energy legislative, legal, and regulatory frameworks, which is a problem for the continent's wind energy. Incentives and support for the development of renewable energy sources are insufficient in Africa. There is a shortage of reliable and comprehensive information about wind resources as well as a lack of a wind map, which affects key groups in the public and corporate sectors[1].

Ethiopia's national energy policy has to be completely revised because, the main finding is that it doesn't address how much energy is needed for development and subsistence, particularly how much energy is needed in rural areas for contemporary productive activities [34]. Determining Ethiopia's full potential for renewable energy sources remains a major challenge, especially given the lack of local content development in the context of creating an industrial base. The Ethiopian government has made some notable moves in favour of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Green Growth model, and the Paris Climate Accord. However, the top-down approach of establishing general objectives for the various regions is not a workable solution to the issue of energy poverty [25].

In terms of cost, impact on the environment, and usability, wind energy competes with other energy sources. Wind power is the only renewable energy source, except hydropower, that is closest to commercial viability, however improving the project economy remains a significant obstacle for wind power [12]. Ethiopia offers a wealth of potential renewable energy sources that, if developed, may drastically change the country's energy industry and lead to a future where the entire country is electrified rather than burning biomass[20]. In the Ethiopian highlands, precipitation may increase rather than decrease, which may increase water availability for hydroelectric power generation. However, if increases in precipitation only occur during the rainy season this may not translate to increased hydroelectric energy production as water scarcity normally arises during the dry season. Hence, increased precipitation may not necessarily benefit hydroelectric production unless it occurs during the dry season. Increases in the intensity of precipitation may increase the risk of flooding, siltation, and sedimentation, which directly affect the capacity of hydroelectric reservoirs. Ethiopia needs to invest in relatively expensive renewable energy resources in pursuit of green energy development, poverty alleviation, and energy security; however, such an effort is hindered due to the high capital costs of alternative energy resources [10]. Since wind energy is a renewable energy source, it has numerous advantages over fossil fuels, and  biomass energy whose supplies are running out [33].Several studies are conducted regarding wind renewable energy utilisation in Ethiopia. This review aimed to identify the potential of wind power energy, utilisation level challenges and opportunities in Ethiopia.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1.3.1 General Objectives of the Study

The main objective of this systematic review is to identify the potential of wind power energy, utilisation level challenges and opportunities in Ethiopia.

1.3.2 Specific Objectives of the Study

• • To identify the main challenges in utilizing wind energy in Ethiopia
  • To assess wind energy potential and development opportunities in Ethiopia
  • To examine the Status of Wind energy utilization in Ethiopia
• Research Questions

1.3.3 Key research question, which the study seeks to find an answer for:

• What are the main challenges in utilizing wind power energy in Ethiopia?
• How many wind power energy potentials and opportunities exist in Ethiopia?
• To what extent does wind power energy utilization exist in Ethiopia?
• Significance of the Study

The study is significant because it provides information on current wind energy utilization in Ethiopia. Also, provide information on how wind energy technologies are used in the country to light homes, produce hot water, heat homes, and generate electricity. And it can also demonstrate the country's wind power energy potential.

2. Methods

This section aims to show how journals were identified, the search strategies, the eligibility criteria i.e., inclusion and exclusion criteria, information sources, assessment of quality studies and analysis of data. A systematic review can be designed to provide an exhaustive summary of current literature relevant to a research question. Hence, this systematic review was prepared by summarizing and synthesizing the findings of empirical research results conducted in different parts of the study area. This review is composed of a comprehensive search for reliable databases on a specific topic, followed by an appraisal and synthesis of those studies according to a predetermined method.

2.1 Search strategy and design

The Web of Science, Journal of Citation Report, Scopus, Google Scholar, Citation Tracing, and Science Direct were among the major scientific databases from which a full collection of literature was made to conduct this systematic review. Data were thus retrieved from chosen publications and journals based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, mostly based on the degree of relation with the issue under investigation, published year, and study area. The particular keywords and phrases associated with the topic under investigation were used to exclude studies from the evaluation process. The selection method took into consideration articles that addressed the usage of wind power energy.

2.1.1 Inclusion criteria: The criteria employed to incorporate different related studies into this systematic review were time of publication, similarity, type of publication and The studies considered in the review do have the characteristics like their relation to the objective of the review, conducted within the scope of the review and published in a their-reviewed journal between 2010 and 2023 years. Moreover, an outstanding emphasis was given to the research works resulting from the scientific database consultations and even selected one from another within the same search engines based on the quality or position of the journal and its rankings.

2.1.2 Exclusion criteria: The studies published before 2010, conducted outside of the target area, with differences in objectives with similar topics and journals which were not well recognized by the Ethiopian Ministry of Education were excluded to be part of the systematic Besides, the review also ignored the journals which were not peer-reviewed and had a poor-quality position in its rankings.

2.1.3 Data collection: Different information like author/s name and publication date, journal name, type and category of publication, study settings, methods and key findings were collected and extracted systematically from the identified

2.1.4 Quality assurance mechanism: To promote the reliability and validity of the systematic review, the [28]. flow diagram was strictly As mentioned in Figure 1 below, the issues related to the review's objective, adequate terms, conclusiveness, inclusion/exclusion criteria, method of data analysis and concrete data presentation were strictly checked and controlled. Hence, taking into account all the aforementioned key procedures and criteria, from the total of 127 articles assessed, only 11were identified for this systematic review. To promote the validity of the findings of the study and to strengthen the triangulation of the data obtained, research conducted in the different parts of Ethiopia was fairly entertained. Most of the articles included in the study were case studies and mixed studies. But for the study, mixed studies aspects were selected to synthesize using the thematic analysis.

3.2 Method of Data Analysis

Conducting a periodical systematic review of a given field of study enables us to comprehend the conceptual development of a discipline. This review is, therefore, executed to systematically analyze wind power energy research articles published in the previous 13 years, reassess the past, understand the present, and envisage the future of wind power energy utilization and development. Thematic and summative content analyses were employed to examine the contents of each publication. The current study provides up-to-date insight into the wind power energy utilization and development literature by highlighting the main themes and trends of wind power energy utilization and development research over the last thirteen years.

2.3 Description of the study area(Ethiopia)

Ethiopia is located in the region of Eastern Africa called the "Horn of Africa. "Ethiopia's boundaries are 3° to 15° north of the equator and 33° to 48° east of the Greenwich Meridian.GMT+3, the time zone [26]

Ethiopia, a nation of 1.1 million km2, is situated in the northeastern part of the Horn of Africa. With Somalia to the east and southeast, Djibouti to the east, Eritrea to the north and northeast, Kenya to the south, South Sudan to the southwest, and Sudan to the west, the landlocked country has shared borders [15].

Ethiopia has a substantial amount of terrain variation and a tropical monsoon climate. There are three major climatic zones: the hot lowlands below 1500 meters, the temperate zone between 1500 and 2400 meters above sea level, and the cold zone comprising the central regions of the western and eastern high plateaus. The mean annual temperature in the cool zone varies from less than 7 to 12 C in the cold lowlands to more than 25 C in the warm lowlands. The mean annual potential evapotranspiration in arid and semi-arid areas ranges from 1 700 to 2 600 mm, whereas in dry sub-humid areas, it ranges from 1 600 to 2 100 mm [15]. Ethiopia’s 2022 population totals 123 million and is growing at an annual rate of 2.6 per cent,1 making it the second highest in sub-Saharan Africa [32].

3 Findings of the Study

3.1 Location, Study approach, Objectives and methods of the studies

Table1, Location, Study approach, Objectives and methods of the studies

Table 1, Location, Study approach, Objectives and methods of the studies[17,11,14,35, 6, 23,29,18,7,9,36]

3.2 The status of wind power energy utilization, development Opportunities and challenges in Ethiopia

Table2,The status of solar energy utilization, development opportunities and challenges in Ethiopia

Table       2, The status of solar energy utilization, development opportunities and challenges in Ethiopia[17,11,14,35, 6, 23,29,18,7,9,36]

3.3 The status of wind power energy potential in Ethiopia

Ethiopia is resolved to be able to develop, transform, and utilize its energy resources for the best possible economic development, even though the country currently has a limited capacity for power generation. Since less than 50% of rural communities in the nation have access to electricity, wood is still the primary traditional fuel used for cooking and heating in the majority of these places. In light of this, the Ethiopian government is actively building a sizable number of wind and hydroelectric facilities[7].

This systematic review was produced using eleven research articles that were conducted in various locations across the Ethiopian regional states, as shown in the aforementioned two tables. Ethiopian regions include Somali Region, WolytaSoddo and Dilla, Amhara Regional State, and Tigray Region. The findings of these chosen studies confirmed that the area has a high potential for wind energy and is endowed with renewable wind resources that will be essential to its future economic growth and provide significant environmental advantages by lowering the nation's consumption of biomass and fossil fuels. Ethiopia has a significant potential for wind energy due to its location, it continued. The country's wind energy potential may be a result of its location and the high Altitude of the region. Additionally, Ethiopia's future use of hydroelectric power as a source of energy may result in foreign exchange earnings and the attraction of foreign energy companies, which may lay the groundwork for the growth of wind energy in the nation. Innovative off-grid renewable energy-producing methods have arisen to supply low-cost electricity to rural populations.

3.4 Actual status of wind energy site in Ethiopia

Ethiopia, a nation that generates the majority of its energy from hydroelectric dams, is currently expanding significantly its wind energy capabilities. One of the reasons for Ethiopia's poor use of wind energy is a lack of accurate wind data spanning the entire nation, although recent studies have revealed that Ethiopia has significant potential for producing electricity from wind, geothermal, and hydropower. The government has committed to generating power from wind farms by building eight wind farms with a combined capacity of 1116 MW along with several hydropower plants over the five-year Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP) period from 2011 to 2015. This is due to the significant wind resource in the nation[7].

By gathering information from various sources and utilizing a software program to analyze it, the wind energy potential at four different sites in Ethiopia—Addis Ababa (09:02N, 38:42E), Mekele (13:33N, 39:30E), Nazret (08:32N, 39:22E), and Debrezeit (8:44N, 39:02E)—has been examined. In terms of the monthly average wind speed, wind speed probability density function (PDF), wind speed cumulative density function (CDF), and wind speed duration curve (DC) for each of the four chosen sites, the results of the wind energy potential are provided. In short, for measurements made at a height of 10 m, the results suggest that the wind energy potential is reasonable for three of the four locations, with average wind speeds of about 4 m/s. The fourth site has a lower mean wind speed[5].

3.5 Actual and Underdevelopment wind power in Ethiopia

Ethiopia is by far the fifth largest investor in Africa and has invested 100 million dollars in renewable energy. By 2020, Ethiopia hopes to have 5.2 GW of installed wind capacity, making it the wind capital of Africa[13].

Table 3, The wind power energy utilization and underutilized projects in Ethiopia since 2023.

Table 3, Show us, we, can understand there are many wind power energy utilized and underutilized projects in Ethiopia since 2023 [13].

Ethiopia: Adama II Wind Farm (153 MW)

Photo credit: Ethiopia Broadcasting Corporation (2017)

According to Tiruye et al, [30]. Modern energy sources are a necessary input for social services like water supply, health care, and educational institutions, therefore a lack of access to them indicates a loss of opportunity for these services. The utilization and advancement of renewable energies in Ethiopia are hindered by several issues. The biggest obstacles to integrating renewable energy sources in Ethiopia can generally be divided into the following categories: Human and technological limitations, Financial and economic obstacles, Rural energy markets and infrastructure are underdeveloped, Informational obstacles, and Political obstacles.

3.6 The challenges of renewable wind power energy Production in Ethiopia

This portion discusses Ethiopia's potential for renewable energy, as well as the difficulties and challenges it faces. Hydropower and wind power are currently Ethiopia's most potential renewable energy sources, with a combined installed capacity of about 7000 MW. It is believed that this analysis would clarify how Ethiopia may best utilize its plentiful renewable energy sources[1].

Except for hydropower, which is less than 9% of the national reserve, Ethiopia uses resources like solar, wind, and geothermal energy at less than 1% of their capacity. The study revealed that the primary obstacles to the development of renewable energy are financial, technological, legislative, and regulatory. Strengthened financial institutions, the establishment of capacity-buildingcentres, the inception of active community engagement, and the organization of institutions to assist the development of renewable energy are key indicators. Reducing the operation and maintenance cost is one of the potential actions that could reduce the cost of energy produced by offshore wind farms [8]. Based on the evidence that the country faced, these suggested measurements and policy challenges[22].

Table 4, Implementation barriers of wind energy technologies in Ethiopia

Table 4, Implementation barriers of wind energy technologies in Ethiopia [13].

4. Conclusion and policy recommendations

4.1 Conclusion

This paper has confirmed that Ethiopia has a significant wind energy potential. Additionally, it has proven that Ethiopia has access to enough wind energy to meet its energy requirements. To promote green energy, reduce poverty, and ensure energy security, Ethiopia must invest in relatively inexpensive renewable energy sources; yet, this effort is hampered by the high capital costs of alternative energy sources. Future energy investment pathways in Ethiopia are predicted to heavily rely on technological and efficiency advancements. Through the growth of local technological capacity and skill sets, policy actions could specifically target innovation. what kind of welcome they could get in possible host towns. Technological and efficiency advancements can be a growth driver in a world with limited resource availability. Due to their role in lowering resource scarcity, technological and efficiency advancements have positive economic effects. The price, accessibility, availability, and acceptability of clean energy to both rural and urban communities would be improved by such policies, which would also present Ethiopia with prospects for green growth.

Different studies are carried out regarding to wind energy potential in various regions of the country, including the Somali Region, Wolaita and Dila Ethiopia, the Tigray Amhara Regional State, and South Ethiopian countries and ethnicities. The findings of these chosen studies confirmed that the area has a high potential for wind energy. Renewable wind energy resources play a significant role in the region's future economic growth and provide significant environmental benefits by lowering the nation's consumption of biomass and fossil fuels. Future wind energy is also something that will be there. Because the installation material for wind energy in Ethiopia must be imported from abroad and costs significant sums of foreign currency, wind energy utilization is generally quite low.

4.2 Recommendations and policy implications

According to the review literature, Ethiopia must invest in quite costly renewable energy sources to create green energy, reduce poverty, and provide energy security. This effort is hampered, however, by the high capital costs of alternative energy sources. Future energy investment pathways are predicted to heavily rely on technological and efficiency advancements. The following policy implications and recommendations will be helpful for Ethiopia's effective and efficient use of wind energy: Government should subsidize the cost of importation of Renewable Energy Technologies (RET) Especially wind power energy to reduce the high energy cost in Ethiopia and make it affordable.

• More research into the techno-economies involving the initial and subsequent costs of wind power energy plants and their power efficiencies should be
• Private individuals and organizations should be encouraged by appropriate authorities to invest in wind power energy
• Government should create more awareness of the advantages derivable from Renewable Energy Technologies (RET) such as wind power energy
• Government can also consider placing restrictions on the importation of diesel and petrol engine generators because of their adverse effects on the environment even as the global community gear toward clean (green)
• Loans should be provided with low-interestrates to motivate the establishment of renewable energy sources
• Foreign investment should be motivated by ensuring the easy acquisition of licenses for energy generation
• Policy framework, to incentivize renewable energy installation and discourage new fossil fuel projects can be

4. Declarations

4.1 Ethical Approval

Not applicable

4.2 Consent to participate

Not Applicable

4.3 Consent for publication

Not applicable

4.4 Availability of data and materials

All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article (and its supplementary information files).

4.5 Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

4.6 Funding

Authors declare that they can afford the payment for the article publication fee at the payment time.( Self-sponsor)

4.7 Authors' contributions

a. Ashenafi Bekele is writer of the

b. Workneh Ayall is

5.7 Acknowledgments Not applicable

1. Agbetuyi, F., Odigwe, I. A., Awelewa, A. A., & Awosope, C. O. A. (2013). Wind power potential and integration in Africa. 2(1), 232–239.
2. Alemzero, , Acheampong, T., & Huaping, S. (2021). Prospects of wind energy deployment in Africa :

Technical and economic analysis. 179.

3. Bekele, , & Abdela, A. (2012). Energy Procedia Investigation of Wind Farm Interaction with Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation’s Grid. 14(0), 1766–1773.
4. Bekele, , & Palm, B. (2010). Wind energy potential assessment at four typical locations in Ethiopia. 86, 388–396.
5. Benti, E. (2017). Combining Wind and Solar Energy to Meet Demands in Somali Region of Ethiopia ( A Case of Dembel District ). 3(4), 73–83.
6. Biadgo, , Simonovic, A., Komarov, D., & Stupar, S. (2013). Wind energy resource development in Ethiopia as an alternative energy future beyond the dominant hydropower. 23, 366–378.
7. Dagne, , & Worku, A. (2019). Wind Energy Data Analysis and Resource Mapping of East Gojjam Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. 10(3), 1523–1529.
8. Diriba, (2015). ZEF-Discussion Papers on Development Policy No . 201 Dawit Diriba Guta and Jan

Börner energy resource use option in Ethiopia : A sector modelling approach.

9. (2019). Federal Democratic Republic Of Ethiopia Ethiopian Electric Power ( Eep ) Environmental and Social Management Framework ( ESMF ). April.
10. Ejigu, N. (2022). A prospective review of renewable energy developments in Ethiopia [ version 1 ; peer review : 1 approved, 1 approved with reservations ] Sameer Hameer. 1–21.
11. (2016). AQUASTAT Country Profile – Ethiopia. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Rome, Italy. FAO, AQUSAT Reports, 11–12.
12. Fazelpour, , Markarian, E., & Soltani, N. (2019). Wind energy potential and economic assessment of four locations in Sistan and Balouchestan province in Iran. 109(2017), 646–667.
13. Gaddada, , Prashanth, S., & Kodicherla, K. (2016). Wind energy potential and cost estimation of wind energy conversion systems ( WECSs ) for electricity generation in the eight selected locations of Tigray region ( Ethiopia ). Renewables: Wind, Water, and Solar.
14. Guta, D. (2015). ZEF-Discussion Papers on Development Policy No . 201 Energy security, uncertainty, and energy resource use option in Ethiopia : A sector modelling approach. 201.

15. Kassa, B. (2019). Iranian ( Iranica ) Journal of Energy & Environment Current Status, Future Potential and Barriers for Renewable Energy Development in Ethiopia. 10(4), 269–274.
16. Kumar, S. P., & Gaddada, S. (2015). Statistical scrutiny of Weibull parameters for wind energy potential appraisal in the area of northern Ethiopia. Renewables: Wind, Water, and Solar, 2011.
17. Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Electricity of Ethiopia (MOWIE), Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP), Ethiopian Energy Authority (EEA), Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU), and the B., & 3. (2016). Accelerating Wind Power Generation in Ethiopia. October.
18. Netsanet Ejigu and, H. (2022). A prospective review of renewable energy developments in Ethiopia [version 1 ; peer review : 1 approved, 1 approved with reservations ] Sameer Hameer. May, 1–21.

19. Prashanth, , & Kodicherla, K. (2018). Assessing wind energy potential for electricity generation using WECS in eight selected stations of Ethiopia Assessing wind energy potential for electricity generation using WECS in eight selected stations of Ethiopia. 0750.
20. Prashanth, , Kodicherla, K., & Gaddada, S. (2017). Wind energy potential and economic evaluation of WPS using WECSs in three selected locations of. 1338.
21. Tahiru, W., Takal, S. U., Sunkari, E. D., & Ampofo, S. (2023). Iranian ( Iranica ) Journal of Energy and Environment A Review on Renewable Energy Scenario in Ethiopia. 14(4), 372–384.
22. Tiruye, A., Besha, A. T., Mekonnen, Y. S., & Benti, N. E. (2021). Opportunities and Challenges of Renewable Energy Production in Ethiopia. 1–25.
23. Wolde-Ghiorgis, (2000). Renewable Energy for Rural Development in Ethiopia : The Case for New Energy Policies and Institutional Reform. 1–26.
24. Yebi, A. M. (2011). Techno-economic Assessment of Wind Energy to Supply the Demand of Electricity for a Residential Community in Ethiopia Master of Science Thesis.