Government has expressed commitment to the promotion of renewable energy as a sustainable option which will enhance effective participation of all stakeholders in the value chain for the country.
In this regard, government says it has provided the enabling environment for the private sector to play a crucial role in the renewable energy sector which has led to a greater uptake and participation of solar energy by domestic, commercial, and industrial consumers of electricity.
Speaking at the opening of the sixth Renewable Energy Fair through a virtual meeting under the theme ““RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN ACHIEVING GHANA’S INDUSTRIALISATION AGENDA”, Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo Marfo enumerated some of the solar power projects undertaken by government.
“20 MegaWatt solar power plant at Gomoa Onyadze, near Winneba in the Central Region; 6.5 Megawatts solar power plant at Lawra in the Upper West Region, which would eventually be scaled up to 17MWp; 10 Megawatts solar power plant at Bui in the Bono Region, which would eventually be scaled up to 50MWp by the end of the year”.
The Senior Minister also disclosed that the Energy Commission has developed Standards and Labels for Improved Cook stoves for Ghana.
According to him “these standards have been prepared into Regulations that is to be presented to Parliament for approval and endorsed into Law to enable its effective implementation and monitoring”, he emphasized.
He therefore, “urged the Energy Commission to fast track the development of the country’s Clean Cooking Strategy for its quick implementation. The development and implementation of this document would go a long way to ensure efficient and safe cooking in households and improve upon the health of our women and children who often spend a lot of their time in the kitchen”, Mr. Osafo Marfo assured.
Mr. Osafo Marfo also announced that “it is my utmost pleasure to inform you that, just this week, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo together with the Korean Ambassador to Ghana launched the ‘Ghana 500,000 Improved Cook stoves Project’ in which about 500,000 improved cook stoves will be distributed for free to households under a stove-for-carbon scheme”.
“This project would not only save the users money, but also reduce the consumption of non-renewable biomass, thereby reducing Green House Gas emissions and reduce pollution”, he assured.
For his part, the Minister of Energy, John Peter Amewu said his outfit in consultation with the Energy Commission has directed ECG to initiate competitive procurement for a total of 100 MW solar plant capacity from IPPs within the next five years in line with the Renewable Energy Master Plan.
Mr. Peter Amewu also indicated that, “the Renewable Energy Act 2011 has been amended to provide the legal backing for the above actions. The Amendment Bill is currently before Cabinet for consideration and approval by Parliament. The Bill also encourages small-scale self generation and net-metering from renewable”, he emphasized.
The Energy Minister also disclosed that “plans are also far advanced for additional mini-grids to be installed on 55 islands and lakeside communities in 10 districts along the Volta Lake. The beneficiary communities have already been selected and feasibility studies are almost completed”.
“Procurement process is also underway for the award of contract to install and connect approximately 4000 households in these Districts. Earlier this month, I broke ground for the construction of the mini grids systems for 3 of these communities located in the Ada East District,” he indicated.
Board Chairman of the Energy Commission, George Panyin Hagan expressed delight at the positive outcome of the Renewable Energy Fair over the years indicating that the platform has helped in shaping Ghana’s quest to take full advantage of renewable energy resources.
“The Ghana Renewable Energy Fair, since its inception in 2015, continues to play a major role in facilitating stakeholder discussions on topical renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies and policy issues. It has helped in identifying opportunities for investments in the country’s renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors”.
“Additionally, the inputs and suggestions that participants have made at the Fair over the years have led the Energy Commission and the Ministry of Energy to develop various Standards and Regulations for the industry. Notable amongst them are the Cook stoves Regulations, Wood fuel Regulations and the Mini-Grid Regulations which are to be tabled before Parliament soon. Energy efficiency regulations have also been developed for washing machines, solar panels, inverters, batteries, motors, fans etc and are ready to be sent to Parliament for approval”, he indicated.
Story: Henry George Martinson@radiogoldlive.com
