Invest In Solar

Tommy O’Dell Doku

It is no news in our part of the world that, consistent access to electricity cannot be assured, especially when the entire energy supply is barely enough to provide excess.

Prevailing energy challenges and its impact on the future

The challenges of "inadequate supplies of gas” to provide the amount of gas needed to fire Ghana's power plants at VRA and the Independent Power Producers - CENIT Energy and Sunon Asogli, together with the "discouraging" level of water in the Akosombo Dam as disclosed by the Volta River Authority, among other key facts compounds the issue of energy security for individuals and companies.

As a communications practitioner with keen interests in the energy sector and has been critically analyzing the trends in the power industry, I can confidently say of the energy situation in Ghana that, unlike our long term dazzling prospects, the interim does not look good, a fact attested to by the energy minister and the Volta River Authority.

Hence, in the face of prevailing challenges in the energy sector, it is therefore prudent that all consumers (both industry and individuals) show a preference in the usage of alternative energy supply which will help users to go beyond the shortfalls in the energy provision in Ghana. This is relevant, if a consistent demand for energy must be met to power industries, offices and homes.

Solar energy technology as prudent option
One sure source of energy production that is easily convenient on a small scale for individuals and other consumers of energy is solar energy. Solar energy is the technology used to harness the sun's energy and make it useable.

Today, the technology produces less than one tenth of one percent of global energy demand, even though every hour the sun beams onto Earth more than enough energy to satisfy global energy needs for an entire year.

Positives of Solar Energy
There are several reasons that make solar energy, a viable option for consumers. First of all the good sides to adopting solar energy is that, the sun is free and in even far more importantly, in constant supply especially when we are in the tropical region.

Once there is consistent supply of sun and the sun is also free, all one has to do is invest in the hardware needed to utilize the sun's rays into electricity. This directly helps translate into lower cost of energy. Also, prices of solar products have generally declined over the decade and in many countries around the world such as Ghana, where there are tax exemptions when importing solar generating equipment's. This therefore translates into relatively low cost in purchasing the photovoltaic system.

Also, due to the abundance of organisations dedicated to sales and servicing of solar related technology in the country, consumers are assured of innovative, eco-friendly and efficient products that will last a longer time and eventually bring worth to these investments into this alternative energy source. This therefore is an advantage since solar energy technologies have low running cost.

It must be acknowledged that, even though an investment into Solar panels and its accompanying battery for storage may seem relatively an expensive investment in the interim, due to its long life cycle coupled with the low running cost, one will make profit and save him/her the huge monthly bills they pay.

Conclusion
Individual's decision to move from total dependence on the current national grid by adopting solar energy must however be gradual. Starting with solar energy enough to provide lighting bulbs in the face of a sudden outage by Electricity of Ghana, one can graduate to increasing solar energy supply to power television and radio sets, gradually, one can increase the investments and totally have enough solar energy to power entire household and rarely rely on the national grid.

Once, many people adopt such an alternative supply of energy, pressure on the national grid (which requires Ghana to add at least 250MW of power to its grid each year) will be reduced to an extent and help boast energy security for all, at least in the interim.

Bearing in mind the facts that, the world cup is getting closer which translates into many people using electricity at the same time, the rains in the north is not getting any better to help push up the water levels in the Akosombo Dam, gas supply is barely enough and consistent, unforeseen equipment breakdown is arguably predictable, it is only prudent that, individuals especially make a decision to invest in solar energy to help strategically position themselves against the potential shortfalls that we all anticipate.

Tommy O'Dell Doku,

Is An Energy Communications Practitioner

And Senior Convener, Ghanaian Students' Energy Summit

[email protected]