GNA: The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), through its Accelerated Partnership for Renewable Energy in Africa (APRA), is aiding Ghana in advancing its renewable energy and energy transition efforts. This collaborative initiative between African governments and international stakeholders focuses on the adoption of renewable energy.
According to Ghana News Agency, Ghana, with the assistance of APRA, has pinpointed crucial steps needed to utilize its renewable energy potential. This aligns with the country's vision of sustainably meeting its growing electricity demand through diverse energy sources by 2030. A Renewable Energy Authority (REA) is set to be established to steer the energy transition and the overall progress of the renewable energy sector.
Mr. Seth Mahu, Director of Renewable Energy at Ghana's Ministry of Energy, shared this development at the 15th IRENA Assembly in Abu Dhabi. The assembly, themed 'Accelerating the Renewable Energy Transition - The Way Forward,' gathered ministers, high-level delegates from IRENA's 139 Member States, academia, development banks, chief executives, and youth to foster cross-sectoral collaboration on energy transition.
The assembly's discussions highlighted the need to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030, enhance ambition in Nationally Determined Contributions, support transitions in emerging economies, and leverage innovative financial flows in developing countries. Mr. Mahu emphasized that collaboration with IRENA would focus on mobilizing funds for grid expansion, off-grid access, and e-mobility.
Additionally, capacity building, particularly for women in Artificial Intelligence and renewable energy market development, as well as funding for establishing the Renewable Energy Authority, were identified as key areas of focus. Despite 80% of Ghanaians having access to electricity as of 2024, the government remains committed to extending energy access to all, particularly through renewable sources.
Ghana faces challenges in serving over 170 island and lakeside communities, with a population nearing two million, where electricity access is limited. To address this, the government has commissioned three renewable energy-based mini-grids in 2024 and begun construction on 35 more, with support from the African Development Bank, Climate Investment Fund, and the Swiss Government. A $100 million investment portfolio has been prepared to fund 150 mini-grids for these communities.
Through the Scaling-up Renewable Energy Programme, supported by $85 million in grant financing from the Climate Investment Fund, Swiss Government, and the Government of Ghana, plans are underway to deploy 12,000 net-metered solar PV installations for homes, businesses, and public facilities.
Mr. Mahu also highlighted the construction of a 30 MW floating solar plant at the Bui Hydropower Generating Station, with locally manufactured floaters, reflecting Ghana's commitment to green industrialization and the African Continental Free Trade Area.
To address fiscal imbalances in the power sector, Ghana has developed the Public Facilities Sustainable Energy Action Plan with support from the German Government. This initiative aims to integrate distributed renewable energy into public facilities, reducing national grid consumption and government utility debt. It has secured £30 million from Kreditanstalt fr Wiederaufbau to install 22 MW of solar PV capacity in public universities, ministries, and departments.
Further, the Volta River Authority, in partnership with the West Africa Power Pool and funded by the European Delegation, is developing a 150 MW solar power project to strengthen the regional grid and incorporate battery energy storage systems at the nodal level.
