The commissioning of a new 13 MW solar power facility in Ghana’s Upper West Region was announced by the country’s president, Nana Akufo-Addo, on Tuesday.
The Volta River Authority’s 13 MW Solar Power Project, which Akufo-Addo claims was initially conceived of in February 2020, is the first stage of what will eventually grow into a 28 MW solar power plant near Kaleo, Ghana.
At a ceremony to commemorate the event, Akufo-Addo also disclosed that a second solar power plant with a 15 MW capacity is already in the works, thanks to money obtained from the German Development Bank (KFW). Within a year, this additional plant is anticipated to be finished.
The project is a part of the Ghanian government’s goal to broaden the mix of renewable energy sources used to produce electricity in the country.
Speaking at the ceremony in Kaleo, the president explained that the Kaleo Solar Plant is assisting Ghana in achieving its Nationally Determined Contributions, as presented at COP26 in Glasgow, United Kingdom, along with ongoing interventions in the area of energy efficiency, such as the use of natural gas for thermal generation, adoption of cleaner cooking solutions, and decarbonization of oil production, among others.
“The Akufo-Addo government has invested heavily in the electricity transmission network, which will enable us evacuate more renewable energy through the national grid, to support the extension of electricity to all parts of Ghana,” the president said.
According to reports, the Kaleo plant will supply the GRIDCo substation at the nearby town of Wa which has over 200,000 inhabitants with power in the future.
“At peak sun hours, the Kaleo and Lawra plants can meet the entire load at Wa and its environs. This can make Wa the greenest city in Ghana,” Akufo-Addo said.
With the exception of the Bui Hydro power plant, practically all of Ghana’s commercial electricity output and its generation assets are currently situated in the central and southern regions of the nation.
The president wants to bring future energy supplies closer to the north of the country with the Kaleo plant and other projects, creating new opportunities for regional growth. Besides, the northern region of Ghana is the warmest and would seem to be an ideal location for future solar ventures.
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