Achieving universal electricity access at subnational level in Ethiopia: A geospatial planning approach

The significant research contribution of this conference paper lies in its development of a high-resolution, sector-integrated geospatial electrification planning.

Key contributions include:

1) Multi-sector Demand Integration: Unlike many prior geospatial studies that focus only on household electricity demand, this study integrates electricity demand from health and education facilities, enabling more realistic and inclusive planning.

2) Use of High-Resolution Spatial Data: By employing fine-grained population data (e.g., HRSL) and georeferenced infrastructure/facilities, the study increases the accuracy of least-cost technology selection across diverse terrains and settlement types.

3) Scenario-Based Planning: It evaluates electrification pathways under low, medium, and high demand scenarios, accounting for future consumption growth, and identifies how technology preferences shift with changing demand levels.

Overall, the paper contributes to a policy-relevant framework for achieving universal electricity access in challenging geographies, with implications for similar contexts across Sub-Saharan Africa.