Ghanaian company to install world's second largest rooftop solar energy in Tema

A Ghanaian company, Helios Solar Company (Helios), part of LMI Holdings, is undertaking a massive solar rooftop project that will be the largest in Africa and the second largest in the world.

Upon completion, the project will generate 16.82 megawatts of solar power, reducing the country's annual carbon emissions by approximately 11,000 tonnes.

The first phase is slated for completion in January 2024, with the entire project expected to be finalized by June of the same year.

It involves the installation of 29,252 cutting-edge N-type solar panels across a rooftop area of 95,000 square meters, roughly the size of 20 football fields.

The project is funded by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) as part of a comprehensive $30 million clean energy and water deal with LMI Holdings. This initiative aims to support job creation and foster a greener, more sustainable, and more competitive industrial landscape in Ghana.

Components and workforce

All project components, including panels, inverters, racking, and MV Transformer Units, are readily available and are being installed by a team of 128 Ghanaian engineers, electricians, and other personnel directly employed on the project.

The installation covers the rooftop of the International Warehousing Company (IWC) Mega-warehouse located in the Tema Free Zone.

Ministerial perspective

The Minister of Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, toured the facility alongside his deputy, Herbert Krapa. He remarked that the plant would significantly contribute to Ghana's renewable energy target of achieving 10% of its energy mix from solar by 2030.

He emphasized that this was purely a private sector-led initiative, driven by a Ghanaian company with IFC support. He highlighted that no sovereign guarantees or government guarantees were required. The government's role was limited to policy adjustments and lifting the embargo on embedded energy generation to empower the private sector.

"I'm happy to see someone taking advantage of the policy. The entire purpose of policy is to address needs, fill gaps in the system, and ultimately promote the well-being of Ghanaians," he added.

Dr. Prempeh shared a personal anecdote about a negative experience he had with solar installations. He mentioned paying $5,000 for a solar system for his house that malfunctioned, shattering his initial faith in the technology. He later realized that the technical skills and expertise required for installing and maintaining solar systems were relatively new in Ghana.

Looking at the project site filled with Ghanaians, Dr. Prempeh expressed his delight. He envisioned the plant serving as a demonstration case for students and artisans to learn and acquire solar installation and maintenance skills.

He further noted the project's potential to empower ordinary Ghanaian electricians by providing them with opportunities to upskill and reposition themselves not only to install but also to maintain solar facilities.

He explained that the generated energy would be channelled into a local grid system within the Enclave Power utility zone. He commended the IFC for its belief in Ghanaians and its support for local industries.

Job creation

Dr. Prempeh emphasized that increased solar installations translate to increased job opportunities for Ghanaians, contributing to the green economy's growth.

"This will boost their credentials in the green economy. We've also saved tonnes of carbon that would have been released into the atmosphere if generated through other means - nearly 10,000 tonnes of carbon a year. It's huge."

WEF perspective

Quoting the World Economic Forum, Mr. Herbert Friese, General Manager of Dutch and Co., highlighted the continent's vast and untapped solar energy potential.

"We are proud to be instrumental in changing this narrative by designing and installing what will be Africa's largest solar rooftop project on behalf of Helios and LMI Holdings, and to assist Ghana in achieving its climate change goals," he added.

IFC perspective

Kyle Kelhofer, IFC Senior Country Manager for Ghana, stated, "Just over a year after our partnership with LMI began, we are excited to see jobs being created and the private sector taking the lead in guiding Ghana towards a greener, more prosperous, and more sustainable future."

This revised version addresses grammatical errors, improves clarity and flow, and condenses the text while maintaining the key points. I hope it is more suitable for publication.