Minister inaugurates 532-kilowatt solar plant at Nexans Kablemetal
The Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has revealed plans to increase the use of clean energy solutions, including solar power, to achieve a more sustainable energy future.
At the inauguration of a solar plant project by Nexans Kablemetal Ghana Ltd in Tema, Mr Jinapor said in line with the President's vision towards attaining a 24-hour economy, the ministry had begun rolling out solar street lights installations across Ghana, particularly in the capital, to reduce peak demand and promote energy efficiency.
“We are going to do so through a hybrid system by using the light-emitting diode (LED) street lights or bulbs, as well as standalone solar street lights.
“The essence is that our major problem has to do with peak demand, the difference between peak demand and daytime consumption is about 400 megawatts (MW), street lights alone account for about 400MW,” he said.
Mr Jinapor explained that if a lot more of the street lights ran on solar, the country would be addressing the peak demand challenges.
Project
The solar plant project initiated by Nexans Kablemetal Ghana Ltd was built in partnership with Daystar Power, a member of the Shell Group Company.
The facility would generate 47.7 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity monthly, meeting 55 per cent of the company’s daytime power needs and 25 per cent of its total energy consumption.
Mr Jinapor also announced an initiative to inject an additional 100 MW of renewable energy power into the national grid, including mini-grids for island communities under the Scaling-Up Renewable Energy Programme (STREP).
He stressed that the initiative, which comprised 35 mini-grids, would deliver electricity to 47 Island communities and over 70,000 residents across the Oti and the Bono East regions.
He expressed his ministry’s unwavering commitment to foster a supportive environment for private sector investment in renewable energy, adding that his ministry was implementing key policy and institutional reforms, including the establishment of the Renewable Energy Authority, to coordinate and drive renewable energy investments in the country.
He said the government was also introducing the national net metering tariff guideline, spearheaded by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), which would provide clarity and predictability for solar systems.
Local content
Mr Jinapor emphasised the importance of procuring locally produced cables to improve the reliability of the power distribution network.
Greenhouse carbons
The Managing Director of Nexans Kablemetal Ghana Ltd, Alexander Quarcoopome, said with the launch of the 532-kilowatt solar plant, which would generate 47.7MWh of electricity monthly, his outfit was aiming at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, adding that they were committed to zero net emissions by 2050.
He said his outfit operated under a triple focus on economic performance, environmental responsibility, and stakeholder engagement and highlighted areas for policy improvement, including import rules, local content regulations, and a review of the tax exemption regime to ensure fairness and sustainability in the industry.
Writer’s email: Benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh
