Energy Commission licenses indigenous power producers
The government is turning attention on indigenous sources of energy such as wood and solar to improve on the current power supply situation in the country.
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In line with this, the Energy Commission has issued out provisional licences to investors in those sectors to produce power totalling 424 megawatts from biomass and wastes. Construction permits have also been issued out to a number of solar power investors to produce between 80 and 100 megawatts.
The Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission, Dr Alfred K. Ofosu-Ahenkorah, said some entrepreneurs had already taken advantage of the situation to cultivate many hectares of colitis plants and other wood plantations to support the initiative.
Biomass power production involves the use of plant and animal materials especially agricultural waste products as sources of fuel for energy generation.
Dr Ofosu-Ahenkorah told participants at the two-day Second International Economic Conference organised by the Economics Department of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi that this kind of power was badly needed to grow the country’s economy.
Solar energy
A grid-connected solar photovoltaic electric systems that would be installed at homes would also be rolled out soon. This initiative is being supported by the millennium challenge compact and the target is to have 200,000 rooftop grid-connected solar systems by 2020.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has already taken delivery of about 300 meters to commence piloting of the project in the country.
Dr Ofosu-Ahenkorah expressed hope that, when successful, it would reduce the increasing demand for electricity in the residential sector.
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Already a solar system that provides 2.5 megawatts of power by the VRA’s solar-grid inter-tied has been installed at a location near Navrongo in the Upper East Region. There is also an over 300KW system at the Noguchi Medical Centre at Legon.
Sustainable energy
Ghana is currently implementing the UN Secretary General’s Sustainable Energy for All initiative which has three key objectives: ensuring universal access to modern energy services, doubling the rate of improvement in energy efficiency and doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix by 2030.
Beyond this, the Energy Commission is also urging Ghanaians to conserve energy and avoid the use of items including used and old refrigerators to save power.
The Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Yamin, said the government was not oblivious of the current energy situation but was exploring all available means to help drive the economy.
He said the government welcomed initatives from the private sector including academia to enrich the public discourse in finding a permanent solution to the energy crisis.