Ethiopia welcomes in a new era in sustainable and dependable weather data by powering their weather radar network with solar energy

Ethiopia’s weather and climate monitoring network has recently been enhanced thanks to Vaisala’s C-band weather radar, which is powered by onsite solar energy. Solar panels, with back up batteries, ensure that the weather radars work constantly to provide Ethiopian weather authorities up-to-date information in an environmentally sustainable manner. 

The recently renewed and expanded Ethiopian weather radar network now provides reliable data without the problems associated with their unpredictable electricity grid. The new solar powered system operates constantly, with up to four days of battery back up when there is no sunshine to generate the requisite solar radiation. The recently introduced solar powered weather radar is the first one in a network of 4 C-band weather radars to be deployed in Ethiopia.

Jarkko Sairanen, Vaisala’s Executive Vice President, Weather and Environment, Vaisala. Commented “Climate change feeds extreme weather around the world, including Ethiopia, where people are more vulnerable to the impact of severe weather events like flooding, drought, and hail,” said “Through the solar powered weather radar network we bring another industry first solution, which raises in a difficult environment the capabilities of Ethiopian authorities to provide their society insights in a reliable way, and simultaneously provides another step toward a healthier planet for us all."