As the government races against time to resolve the power challenges confronting the country, stakeholders in the renewable energy sector are urging the new administration to prioritize solar energy as a viable solution.
This call, backed by research from the Brew-Hammond Energy Centre at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), suggests that integrating solar energy into government-funded projects could significantly boost Ghana’s transition to sustainable power sources.
Titled “Scaling up distributed solar PV adoption in Ghana: A focus on the commercial sector (Real Estate),” the research examined the barriers, enablers, and opportunities for distributed solar generation in Ghana’s commercial sector, presenting concrete recommendations for scaling up adoption.
Speaking at a dissemination workshop in Accra to share findings from the study, the Director of the Brew-Hammond Energy Centre at KNUST, Prof. David Ato Quansah, emphasized the need for government leadership in solar integration.
“It is important that government leads the way. The government is a huge entity with its agencies, so if government projects are integrating solar, then it gives the technology credibility boost. We are happy to hear that the government intends to introduce solar at the basic and senior high schools. Imagine these schools with solar power,” he stated.
He further explained that to enhance solar adoption across the country, his outfit is collaborating with the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA) to ensure that solar power becomes more accessible and widespread in residential and commercial properties.
The research found that real estate businesses have limited awareness of government policies on renewable energy, creating a knowledge gap that hinders effective promotion and implementation.
However, despite the lack of awareness, the study highlighted that many real estate businesses possess a high level of knowledge regarding distributed solar energy. It also revealed that the slow pace of adoption is largely due to businesses not recognizing the long-term cost benefits of solar PV technology.
“Government has introduced a number of renewable energy (RE) policies, but the rate of adoption remains low. This underscores the need to redouble efforts to provide innovative financing mechanisms and increase awareness campaigns, among others,” the research stated.
The Director for Renewable Energy at the Ministry of Energy and Green Transitions, Mahu, noted that Ghana’s renewable energy sector is experiencing significant growth, with multiple initiatives set to transform the country’s power infrastructure.
To expand the country’s rooftop solar programme, he revealed that the Ministry has secured 12,000 smart meters as part of its distributed renewable energy programme, with the first batch of 4,000 units expected to arrive by the end of Q2 2024. According to him, the meters are currently undergoing factory acceptance testing.
The Executive Secretary of GREDA, Samuel D. K. Amegayibor, underscored the increasing significance of sustainability in the energy sector, stating that GREDA has been actively engaging with its members on energy-saving initiatives, particularly the potential of solar energy in residential buildings.
“Buildings contribute to about 40 percent of climate change-related issues, therefore there is a pressing need to turn the challenge into an opportunity by using solar systems. We are committed to doing everything within our capacity to make a difference,” he added.
With mounting pressure on the government to address Ghana’s power deficit, industry experts believe that a decisive shift toward solar energy could serve as a long-term solution, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and enhancing the country’s energy security.
