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GHANA RENEWABLES READINESS ASSESSMENT SUMMARY

Core Content

The Renewables Readiness Assessment (RRA) for Ghana is a comprehensive analysis of the country's renewable energy potential, institutional framework, and challenges in deploying renewable technologies. It outlines the opportunities and constraints for increasing renewable energy access, particularly in rural areas, and provides actionable recommendations to support the government's Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) Action Plan and Renewable Energy Strategy.

Main Points

• Energy Access and Demand:

  • As of 2012, electricity access in Ghana stood at 72%, with 87% in urban areas and just under 50% in rural areas.
  • Domestic electricity demand is growing at 10% annually, and is expected to reach 24,000 GWh by 2020, requiring an increase in generation capacity to more than 3.5 GW.
  • The country is a net electricity exporter to Togo, Benin, and Burkina Faso due to its current production capacity.
  • Biomass accounts for 50% of the Total Primary Energy Supply, while oil is the second most used energy source at 40%, followed by hydropower (7%) and natural gas (3%).

• Renewable Energy Resources:

  • Ghana has significant potential for biomass, solar, wind, and small/mini-hydropower.
  • Solar irradiation is strong across the country, and wind potential is notable in specific regions.
  • Small and mini-hydropower are also viable, especially in areas with consistent water flow.

• Legal and Policy Framework:

  • The Renewable Energy Act (Act 882, 2011) provides the legal basis for promoting renewable energy.
  • It introduces Feed-in Tariff (FiT) and Renewable Energy Purchase Obligation (RPO) mechanisms.
  • The law also supports the establishment of a Renewable Energy Fund (REF) to provide financial incentives and subsidies.

• Challenges and Barriers:

  • Grid Integration: The current grid code lacks provisions for generation forecasting and priority dispatch, which are essential for integrating variable renewable energy.
  • Payment Guarantees: Distribution companies (ECG and NEDCo) are in debt, making it difficult to provide payment guarantees to Independent Power Producers (IPPs), which affects project viability.
  • Administrative Complexity: The process for IPPs to enter the electricity market is complex and involves multiple agencies, increasing costs and discouraging investment.
  • High Interest Rates: This limits private sector investment in renewable energy projects, especially in off-grid applications.
  • Limited Awareness: Many rural communities are unaware of the benefits of modern cooking/heating technologies and decentralised energy systems.

• Opportunities:

  • Decentralised Renewable Energy (DRE): Offers a viable solution for rural electrification, especially with solar PV, biomass, and mini-grids.
  • Private Sector Involvement: Needed to scale up renewable energy projects, especially in off-grid areas, where the market is not attractive to foreign investors.
  • Technology Innovation: Supports the development of local manufacturing and improved technologies such as solar dryers and clean cookstoves.
  • Financial Instruments: Includes group lending, microfinance, and pre-financed subsidies to support low-income users and operators.

• Recommendations:

  • Revise Grid Code: To include generation forecasting and priority dispatch for renewable energy.
  • Establish Payment Guarantees: For IPPs, ensuring commercial viability of renewable projects.
  • Streamline Market Entry Process: Create a one-stop shop for regulatory approvals and incentives to reduce administrative burdens.
  • Develop Clear Policy for Off-grid Mini-grids: Define operational schemes, stakeholder roles, and political direction to support decentralised energy systems.
  • Improve Cookstove Technologies: Introduce efficient and low-emission models and increase public awareness and acceptability.
  • Support Local Capacity Building: For both private sector operators and financial institutions to develop and appraise bankable renewable projects.
  • Promote Energy Efficiency: To complement renewable energy development and enhance energy security.

Key Institutions and Frameworks

• Ministry of Power (MoP): Leads the implementation of the RRA and SE4ALL Action Plan.
• IRENA and ECREEE: Provided technical support and expertise for the RRA process.
• Renewable Energy Authority (REA): Proposed to oversee the implementation of renewable energy policies.
• Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC): Regulates the energy sector and ensures compliance with RPO and FiT mechanisms.
• Ghana Energy Access and Development Project (GEDAP): Supports rural electrification and access to modern energy services.

Critical Findings

• The National Energy Policy aims for 10% renewable energy in the electricity mix by 2020, focusing on grid-connected applications.
• Variable renewable energy (solar, wind) is becoming more attractive due to high costs of thermal generation and limited backup capacity.
• Grid expansion and decentralised systems are both critical for achieving energy access in rural areas.
• Community preferences often favor grid connectivity due to the availability of high-wattage appliances, which may discourage off-grid adoption.
• Awareness campaigns are needed to educate farmers and local operators about the benefits of off-grid renewable systems and modern cooking technologies.

Conclusion

The RRA for Ghana highlights the potential of renewable energy to support sustainable development, energy security, and poverty reduction. However, the successful deployment of these technologies requires policy reforms, financial support mechanisms, institutional capacity building, and community engagement. The government's commitment to the RRA process, combined with international support, will be crucial in overcoming these challenges and achieving a cleaner and more prosperous energy future.