- Four C- band weather radars are to be installed in Ethiopia.
- Vaisala approved the project to develop an Ethiopian weather observation and forecasting system.
First of four C-band weather radars to be installed in Ethiopia, a newly announced solar-powered weather radar also includes a backup battery system. This guarantees the weather radar’s continuous uptime, assisting authorities in maintaining reliable operations. Even without solar radiation, the power system can keep the weather radar running for up to four days.
Vaisala, a Finnish company, specialising in weather, environment, and industrial measurement, added solar power to the project to ensure that Ethiopia’s new weather radar network operates with the maximum level of availability so that decision-makers can concentrate on safety.
In Ethiopia, where people are particularly susceptible to the effects of severe weather events like flooding, drought, and hail, according to Jarkko Sairanen, executive vice president of Vaisala weather and environment, climate change fuels extreme weather around the world.
In 2021, Vaisala approved the project’s development of an Ethiopian weather observation and forecasting system. It established the turnkey meteorological solution for the Finnish Meteorological Institute and the National Meteorology Agency (NMA) in Ethiopia (FMI).
NMA will receive assistance from Vaisala and FMI in developing capabilities that will enhance its ability to forecast and provide weather-related warnings. Modern environmental monitoring, forecasting, and early warning technologies help protect people and property.
The project is estimated to cost roughly €13 million and is projected to last for three years after the implementation phase. It is financed using a soft-loan financing vehicle administered by the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Finnish Public Sector Investment Facility.