Accra, 3 September 2015 – A new study by UNEP and The Energy Center, assesses the solar energy export potential of Ghana to the West African Power Pool (WAPP) sub-region, and analyzes respective environmental, social and economic benefits from solar energy exports.
The report Ghana Solar Export Potential Study (SEPS), was launched on 3 September 2015, at the third national stakeholder workshop for the Green Economy and Trade Opportunities Project (GE-TOP) in Ghana, hosted by The Energy Centre (TEC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The workshop was attended by 35 stakeholders from national policy (4 ministries - Energy, Environment, Finance, Trade), national energy utilities, academia, finance, investors, industry and regional initiatives / trade partners (incl. ERERA, ECREE).
The workshop served to formally launch the report and to present and discuss initial findings from the Strategy Proposal, which TEC and UNEP are developing under the second phase of GE-TOP Ghana. The workshop was moderated by Mr. Seth Agbeve, Deputy Director Renewable Energy at Ghana’s Ministry of Power.
The GE-TOP Ghana project aims to foster solar energy exports to the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) sub-region, with the vision of enabling Ghana to be a frontrunner of regional (clean) energy integration. Ghana features favorable solar irradiation (4.0 - 6.5 kWh/m2/day), a comparative advantage (on regional level) on solar energy production, transmission and know-how, and aims to increase its domestic power generation capacity to 5000 MW (currently, 2845.5 MW) in the short term, with 10 per cent from renewable sources (excl. large hydropower). The export of electricity to the sub-region is a firmly established national agenda, that is formalized in the Ghana National Energy Policy and vested in the West African Power Pool (WAPP) project and related ECOWAS Protocols.
The Ghana Solar Export Potential Study finds that a grid-connected 100 MW solar plant in Ghana`s North could, compared to business-as-usual, save 40,000 tCO2 annual emissions, create 3,000 direct jobs, provide livelihoods for 23,000 of the poorest people, and earn an annual US$ 38 million in foreign exchange from export. The Study was formally launched by the Director for Renewable Energy at the Ministry of Power, Mr. Wisdom Togobo, who pledged the Ministry`s full support to the GE-TOP Ghana objectives.
The national Energy Commission, represented by Head of Renewable Energy at the Energy Commission, Mr Kwabena Otu-Danquah, also promised support in the uptake of findings and recommendations. The representative from the Burkina Faso energy utility SONABEL, confirmed that his country expects to import three-quarters of its electricity needs (forecast: 400 MW by 2020), including a large part from Ghana. Overall, stakeholders commended the project team for its innovative, high-quality technical and financial analysis work, while urging that Ghana needs to establish ownership over the recommendations and that decisive action is required to bridge the gap from theoretical analysis to practical implementation.
Based on findings from the SEPS, the Strategy Proposal develops a concrete strategy and (investment) proposal for selecting, technically designing and financing a cross-border grid line between Ghana and Burkina Faso. The Strategy Proposal is expected to be finalized in late 2015.
