GHANA’S BLUE PRINT FOR A SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FUTURE
By
HON. SHERRY AYITTEY, MINISTER
FOR
ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
GHANA
Renewable Energy in Ghana: Prospects and Challenges
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Renewable energy resources include:
•Solar Power‐ Photo‐Voltaic (PV) and Thermal
( )
•Bio Energy‐ Biomass and Biofuel
•Wind Power
•Hydro Power
•Tidal Power and Wave Power
•Geothermal Power
•Fuel Cells
•Hydrogen generation and storage
Renewable energy is site specific and technology driven. Renewable energy that can be exploited in Ghana include: Hydro power (mini, micro) solar, biofuels, wind and energy derived from waste (agricultural and municipal)
Challenges to Future Energy Development Worldwide
Challenges
to Future Energy Development Worldwide
Future energy development faces great challenges due to
•Increasing
Increasing standards of living worldwide
standards of living worldwide
•Demand for cleaner energy associated with less pollution
•Depletion
Depletion of fossil fuel
of fossil fuel
Without energy, the infrastructure which forms the basis of development would collapse: agriculture, transportation, p
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,
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information technology, communication and most of the basic needs of life depend on energy.
Ghana’s Energy Challenges
With an expanding economy and growing population, Ghana faces major challenges in providing: the required amount of energy with
ith reliability and sustainability
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Ghana’s Energy Challenges
•Wood fuel consumption is expected to rise almost five times from 14 million t
tones in 2000 to 66 million tones by 2020
i 2000 t 66 illi t
b 2020
•Total petroleum demand is projected to grow from about 1.6 million tones in 2000 to 4.5 million by 2020
• Electricity demand for the domestic market is projected to exceed 4,400 MW in 2020
Renewable Energy Resources in Ghana
Renewable
Energy Resources in Ghana
Wind Energy
The availability depends on the geographical location of
The availability depends on the geographical location of country relative to the equator: • Countries located further from the equator are known Countries located further from the equator are known
to have relatively high wind energy potential compared to cou t es c ose
to countries closer
•Another challenge is the storage of energy produced during blustery periods
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•Wind speeds below 5m/s are considered to be too low for commercial exploitation
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•Along the cost of Ghana wind speeds of 3‐9 m/s have been recorded and could sustain economic exploitation p
of wind energy
Renewable Energy Resources in Ghana
Geothermal Energy
Geothermal
Energy
Geothermal energy as in energy derived from heat in the earth crust has been harnessed for more than a century. Ghana has no known geothermal energy resource
Solar Power
The sun is the most abundant source of energy in the universe
The sun is the most abundant source of energy in the universe which can be harnessed in the form of heat or light. The challenge associated with using solar energy especially for a developing
associated with using solar energy especially for a developing country like Ghana has been the initial cost of procuring the solar panels. Biofuel
This is fuel that is derived from biomass. Unlike petroleum, biofuel
is a renewable resource Uncertainties in the price of fossil fuel
is a renewable resource. Uncertainties in the price of fossil fuel and concern for the environment has precipitated the need for biofuel. xperiences from countries such as ra il, Malaysia and
biofuel. Experiences from countries such as Brazil, Malaysia and Germany show show considerable potential for biofuels. Renewable Energy Resources in Ghana
Fuel Cell
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The technology involves the conversion of chemical hydrogen and oxygen into water and in the process generate electricity This
oxygen into water and in the process generate electricity. This holds considerable potential for addressing the energy needs of the world in the future Challenges to the Development of Renewable Energy in Ghana
Limited Renewable Energy Resources
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Renewable energy sources in Ghana consisting of small and mini‐
microhydro wind solar biomass and municipal solid waste would
microhydro, wind, solar, biomass and municipal solid waste would only be able to supply between 380 and 500 MW delivering between 2,500 and 3,500 GWh competitively. p
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This will form about a tenth of the energy requirement of Ghana by 2020. More than 10% of renewable energy in the energy mix would increase the cost of generation significantly ld i
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Challenges to the Development of Renewable Energy in Ghana (Continue)
•The potential of generating grid electricity from Solar PV is limited by capital rather than resource.
•Wind may have the largest capacity for development among the options and has the potential of contributing significantly to grid ti
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power by about 200‐300 MW producing 600 GWh
Cost per Kilowatt Hour
One of the critical challenges to the adoption of renewable energy sources is the cost per unit to consumers compared with energy from other sources (fossil fuels).
•The cost of grid connected solar energy per kWh is over US$0.30 Th
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kWh i
US$0 30
compared to US$ 0.04/kWh
The cost of a solar panel facility in Ghana is about US$ 7000/kW cost of a solar panel facility in Ghana is about US$ 7000/kW
•The
compared to US$500‐1000 for a gas fired thermal power plant
Challenges to the Development of Renewable Energy
Challenges to the Development of Renewable Energy Investment Risk
The volatility in the pricing of oil and gas on the international market increases the risk of investment in renewable energy f iliti
facilities. A drop in hydrocarbon prices erodes enthusiasm for Ad
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investment in renewable energy sector
Competing Technologies
There is intense competition to achieve hegemony within the sub sectors of the renewable energy market. In biofuels, lobbyists for a corn‐based solution vie with those championing cellulose, ethanol, bi di l Withi th
biodiesel. Within the solar market, concentrating solar power l
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systems compete with the much more popular photovoltaic systems
Challenges to the Development of Renewable Energy Challenges
to the Development of Renewable Energy
(Continue)
Not In My Backyard Syndrome
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Renewable energy although provide less pollution compared to energy from fossil fuel, there have been significant backlash from communities regarding the constructing of facilities to produce ii
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renewable energy. Intermittent Nature of Renewable Energy and Storage Difficulties
Intermittent Nature of Renewable Energy and Storage Difficulties
Many renewable energy sources are often dismissed because they can not be stored and also because they are intermittent. Constraints to Biofuel Development
The development of an alternative to existing fuel requires policy di
directives and strategies.
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The main constraints are: Feedstock availability, local processing capacity technology development relating to end use consumer
capacity, technology development relating to end use, consumer acceptance of new fuel and cost competitiveness Challenges to the Development of Renewable Energy (Continue)
Feedstock for Biofuel Production
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Different feedstock are used for biofuel
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countries. The general trend is that countries choose feedstock plants which are already being produced on large scales locally and
plants which are already being produced on large scales locally and which have other commercial value other than the production of fuel. In Ghana, Palm oil, Jatropha curcus and Sugar cane offer significant advantages for biofuel production.
Cost Competitiveness of Biofuel
The biofuel market worldwide is not well developed and biofuels
The biofuel
market worldwide is not well developed and biofuels
are not competitive even with crude oil at US$73.00 per barrel. The global market for biofuel is politically driven and relies on tax rebates.
Conclusion
Renewable Energy can be harnessed to support and supplement conventional energy supply. However, significant cost, technology ti
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and attitudinal barriers need to be surmounted before any meaningful penetration could be achieved.
meaningful penetration could be achieved. THANK YOU
. Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST)
MEST
Mandate
The Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology is mandated by government to support national socio‐economic development goals for the country to attain middle‐
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income status through the promotion of science, technology and innovation, human settlement planning and management as well as sustainable management of the environment at all levels of society and in all sectors of the
environment at all levels of society and in all sectors of the economy. Institutions
Town and Country Town
and Country
Planning Department (TCPD)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Council for C
il f
Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
Research (CSIR)
Ghana Atomic Ghana
Atomic
Energy Commission (GAEC)