Technological Advances of Renewable Energy in Ghana

            Ghana has a thriving governmental and commercial industry for the production of electricity. In an industry that had previously been dominated by participants from the public sector, reforms in the power sector in the 1980s gradually removed obstacles and created a level playing field for the involvement of independent power producers. Ghana's primary energy sources continue to be thermal generation using fuels including crude oil, natural gas, and diesel, as well as hydroelectric generation. In addition, Ghana sends electricity to Burkina Faso, Benin, and Togo. Further exports to other neighboring nations in the sub-region will be possible thanks to ongoing grid developments, which include the installation of transmission lines and Bulk Supply Points (BSPs) across the country.

          Ghana's existing plants have a total installed capacity of 5,134 Megawatts (MW), with a reliable capacity of 4,710 MW. Ghana generates 66 percent of its electricity through thermal sources, with hydropower making up the remaining 33 percent. State-owned businesses still play a significant role in the energy sector, controlling key points along the whole value chain. The Volta River Authority (VRA) and Bui Power Authority (BPA) are in charge of the entire hydroelectric component of the generation phase, and VRA also participates in some areas of thermal generation with Independent Power Producers (IPP).

           New power purchase agreements (PPAs) for conventional/thermal and renewable power plants cannot currently be signed. Transmission in the entire nation is still entirely handled by the state-owned Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCO). The state-owned companies Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Northern Electricity Distribution Company are primarily in charge of the last leg of distribution (NEDCO). Enclave Power Company, a private organization, has a small but important position in the supply chain.

             As of 2021, 86.63 percent of people have access to electricity, with 91 percent of urban residents and 50 percent of rural residents respectively being wired up to the grid. The energy industry in Ghana is heavily indebted. The sector has faced difficulties such as an excessive gas supply and excessive power generation. Debt in the energy sector and Ghana's high cost of electricity production act as a brake on the country's economic growth.

              The U.S. government's initiatives to support economic growth in Ghana continue to place a strong emphasis on increasing power output and access to energy. A public-private collaboration coordinated by the US government called Power Africa aims to quadruple the amount of energy available in sub-Saharan Africa. In order to make doing business in the power sector in sub-Saharan Africa easier, it provides tools and resources to private sector organizations. The Electrify Africa Act of 2015 made Power Africa official.

               In 2021, a total of 152.34 Gigawatt hours (GWh) of electrical energy from renewable energy sources was anticipated for the Renewable Energy (RE) Subsector. The grid-connected solar RE farm at Bui, the embedded BXC and Meinergy solar plants, and VRA's facilities at Navrongo and Lawra/Kaleo are some examples of the renewable energy sources.

Ghana’s Renewable Energy Master Plan

Ghana published a Renewable Energy Master Plan in 2019 with the aim to achieve the following by 2030:

·          (1) From 42.5 MW in 2015 to 1,363.63 MW, increase the share of renewable energy in the country's energy generation mix (with grid-connected systems totaling 1,094.63 MW).

·            (2)  Lessen reliance on biomass as the primary fuel source for applications requiring thermal energy.

·           (3) Give 1,000 off-grid communities options for localized electricity based on renewable energy.

·          (4) Encourage local manufacture, assembly, and content in the renewable energy sector.

 Cheers from Ghana.

References

https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/ghana-energy-and-renewables

Energy Commission of Ghana, National Energy Statistics. (2008–2017) http://energycom.gov.gh/files/ENERGY_STATISTICS_2018_FINAL.pdf (accessed 24 January 2020).

Volta River Authority. Volta River Development Act (Act 46). Ghana, 1961. http://extwprlegs1.fao.org/docs/pdf/gha41043.pdf (accessed 14 November 2019).

Energy Commission of Ghana, National Energy Statistics (2005–2014), April 2015 http://energycom.gov.gh/files/Energy%20Statistics_2015.pdf