The increasing global concerns over climate change, rising energy costs, and the need for sustainable energy solutions have intensified the demand for renewable energy, particularly solar energy, which holds significant potential in regions like Northern Ethiopia. This study aims to bridge the existing knowledge gap by providing a detailed empirical analysis of solar radiation in the eastern zone of Tigray, Ethiopia, using ground-based meteorological data from three distinct stations: Adigrat, Atsbi, and Senkata. Utilizing the well-established Angstrom–Prescott equation, Geographic Information System (GIS) for mapping solar resource potential, and detailed statistical analyses, the research estimates solar radiation levels and evaluates seasonal and spatial variations. The findings reveal that Adigrat experiences peak solar radiation in late spring, with an annual average of 6.1 kWh/m2/day, while Atsbi records the highest annual average solar radiation at 6.1 kWh/m2/day, peaking in May at 8.2 kWh/m2/day. Senkata, with its warmer and drier climate, shows an annual average of 6.0 kWh/m2/day, with peaks in March and April. The study highlights the importance of site-specific solar resource assessments for optimizing solar energy systems, such as photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP), solar thermal systems and solar heating technologies. These findings have significant policy implications, particularly for rural electrification projects in Ethiopia, where solar energy can serve as a sustainable alternative to traditional grid systems. By providing detailed solar resource assessments, this research informs investment strategies and policy decisions aimed at promoting renewable energy development, ultimately contributing to energy security and sustainable development in the region.

The energy sector is strategically important and plays a major role in a nation’s development policies. Climate change, global warming, and rising energy costs all have contributed to a rising demand for renewable energy in recent years. As a result, in recent decades, concerns regarding solar energy, one of the most significant renewable energy sources, have grown in number. This study investigated the empirical solar correlations for the Ethiopian province of Mychew Tabia Smret, which was created in Ethiopia and a few other nations. By identifying the closest model based on collected data, the statistical compatibility of the solar radiation models under inspection was examined. In addition to specific to the region climate data, an Angstroms model forecast had been developed at the Mychew Tabia Smret location to estimate worldwide sun radiation. The corresponding values are 0.9824, 0.9658, 0.9215, 0.9125, and 0.9056, respectively. The available mean monthly solar energy distribution was determined to be 192 kWh/m2, while the mean annual solar energy was estimated as around 2339.2 kWh/m2. The estimated statistical parameters such as R2, MBE, RMSE, MPE, MAPE, t-sat, and e% method was addressed for the porpuse of testing the models’ acceptance. The understanding reveals that the crosschecked quadratic model is the most preferable model for Mychew Tabia Smret's solar radiation distribution, with a higher R2 value of 0.9823 compared to linear, logarithmic, exponential power, and exponential models. The quadratic model has a coefficient of determination of 98.23% R2 statistic, making it best alternative for predicting and estimating solar radiation distributions.

Reliable electricity access remains a major challenge for rural communities in northern Ethiopia, where grid supply is scarce and unstable. This study evaluates the techno-economic feasibility of an off-grid solar-wind hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) with battery storage for the Kara Adishuho community. Local solar resources were assessed using a calibrated Angström-Prescott model, while wind speed data across multiple heights were analyzed with HOMER Pro to optimize system design. The proposed configuration is designed to meet an average daily electricity demand of 1.5 MWh/day, with photovoltaic (PV) panels providing approximately 75% (≈1.125 MWh/day), wind turbines contributing 25% (≈0.375 MWh/day), and a lithium-ion battery bank supplying short-term backup and operational buffering. Resource assessment indicates an average solar potential of 5.61 kWh/m2/day and a mean wind speed of 2.56 m/s at 10 m, corresponding to a wind power density of approximately 12.46 W/m2. Simulation results demonstrate that the hybrid system substantially reduces diesel dependence, achieving estimated annual greenhouse gas savings of ≈7.3 tCO2-eq. Economic evaluation reveals a net present value (NPV) of USD 0.45 million, an internal rate of return (IRR) of 9.5%, and a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of 0.42 USD/kWh, which is competitive with diesel-based electricity generation in remote areas. These findings confirm that a battery-supported solar–wind hybrid system offers a technically reliable, environmentally sustainable, and economically viable solution for rural electrification, energy resilience, and fossil fuel reduction in northern Ethiopia.

The availability of properly analyzed energy resource potential data is a prerequisite in energy planning and development. However, this was sparsely applied in Ethiopia’s renewable energy turnkey project development strategies. This study focuses on developing a solar energy resource map of Tigray to accelerate the expansion of solar energy to improve electricity access through on-grid and off-grid development schemes. This study uses monthly sunshine hour data from sixteen meteorological stations, measured at a 2 m height, and average yearly solar radiation data from twenty-two satellite stations, validated by solar radiation data and measured at three sites at 10 and 30 m heights. The solar energy potential was analyzed by taking relevant atmospheric and meteorological factors to produce solar radiation components. Accordingly, the average annual solar radiation of Tigray was found to be 6.1 kWh/m²/day and 5.3 kWh/m²/day based on meteorological and satellite data, respectively. The meteorological result gave a closer estimate to Ethiopia’s ESMAP Global Solar result of 5.83 kWh/m²/day. Finally, monthly and annual average solar radiation maps of the region were developed using ArcGIS10.5. The study’s results could contribute to assisting various solar energy developers in preparing better solar energy development plans to alleviate the chronic energy poverty of the region.

Reliable electricity access remains a major challenge for rural communities in northern Ethiopia, where grid supply is scarce and unstable. This study evaluates the techno-economic feasibility of an off-grid solar-wind hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) with battery storage for the Kara Adishuho community. Local solar resources were assessed using a calibrated Angström-Prescott model, while wind speed data across multiple heights were analyzed with HOMER Pro to optimize system design. The proposed configuration is designed to meet an average daily electricity demand of 1.5 MWh/day, with photovoltaic (PV) panels providing approximately 75% (≈1.125 MWh/day), wind turbines contributing 25% (≈0.375 MWh/day), and a lithium-ion battery bank supplying short-term backup and operational buffering. Resource assessment indicates an average solar potential of 5.61 kWh/m2/day and a mean wind speed of 2.56 m/s at 10 m, corresponding to a wind power density of approximately 12.46 W/m2. Simulation results demonstrate that the hybrid system substantially reduces diesel dependence, achieving estimated annual greenhouse gas savings of ≈7.3 tCO2-eq. Economic evaluation reveals a net present value (NPV) of USD 0.45 million, an internal rate of return (IRR) of 9.5%, and a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of 0.42 USD/kWh, which is competitive with diesel-based electricity generation in remote areas. These findings confirm that a battery-supported solar–wind hybrid system offers a technically reliable, environmentally sustainable, and economically viable solution for rural electrification, energy resilience, and fossil fuel reduction in northern Ethiopia.

This study explores the design and thermal performance of a flat plate solar air collector integrated with a phase change material-based thermal energy storage unit and cylindrical aluminum fins, developed to enhance the efficiency of agricultural drying. Conventional solar dryers often struggle with inconsistent drying due to intermittent solar radiation and inadequate thermal storage. To overcome these challenges, the FPSAC includes a 1.57 m² absorber surface, covered with 5 mm low-iron tempered glass to maximize solar transmittance and insulated with 25 mm of rock wool to reduce heat loss. Paraffin wax RT50, with a melting point around 50 °C and a latent heat of 170 kJ/kg, was selected as the PCM for its ability to store medium-range thermal energy. The TES unit, measuring 0.5 × 0.25 × 0.45 m, holds 48 kg of PCM and can store up to 8.16 MJ of energy. Inside the PCM, 32 aluminum fins (100 mm in diameter and 1200 mm in length) are embedded to improve thermal conductivity and promote even heat distribution during both the charging and discharging phases. Numerical simulations conducted using ANSYS Fluent 19.2 and COMSOL Multiphysics 6.3, based on an average solar radiation of 800 W/m² in Addis Ababa, indicate that the system can achieve an outlet air temperature of 45.6 °C and deliver up to 1.27 MJ of thermal energy after sunset extending drying time by over 70 min beyond daylight hours. The fins play a crucial role in accelerating the melting and solidification of the PCM, improving the thermal responsiveness and efficiency of the system. Overall, the results suggest that this FPSAC-PCM system is a practical, cost-effective, and sustainable solution for agricultural drying and food preservation in regions with fluctuating solar conditions.