The role of Solar Energy in Ghana Energy Security and Climate change

Fossil fuel price instability plus its increasing cost and climate change, as well as efforts to reduce pollution, have led to an unprecedented investment in renewable energy sources in recent times globally.

Ghana, like many other countries, is focused on the integration of renewable energy into the national energy mix to ensure the security of energy supply, ensure a cleaner environment, and help mitigate climate change. Sustainable energy security must therefore be one of the primary concerns if Ghana is interested in governing multi-faceted issues of development.

Energy security plays an important role in human empowerment. Higher energy use enhances production, promotes economic growth, and improves the standard of living -all symbols of development which in turn leads to greater energy consumption.

In addition, the consumption and production of energy also play a major role in several environmental issues such as climate change, depletion of natural resources, and air pollution. Supply security for a country means the country’s ability for efficient generation and production of energy from diversified sources which include renewable e.g. Solar energy.

Now, most of the renewable energy interventions in the country are either being carried out as pilot projects or on short term planning cycle basis. Thus, no clear integrated roadmap exists for the long-term development and promotion of the different renewable energy resources in the country.

To address the related effects of such short-term planning of the overall development of the renewable energy sector, there must be a plan to develop a framework for the promotion and development of the country’s rich renewable energy resources for sustainable economic growth, contribute to improved social life and reduce adverse climate change effects.

Solar energy it’s an efficient tool to support Ghana's energy supply and sustainability. Investing in Solar power seems to be a promising solution for especially rural electrification in Ghana. Small scale Solar plants appear to be most appropriate because of it is suitable to the needs of rural communities; most of the components are low cost in Africa and Chinese market. And there are available qualified local human resources to build the system.

For example, Black Spider Ghana has been providing solar energy technology to residential homes, farms, hospitals, industrial and commercial buildings in both the rural and urban areas in Ghana for more than 4 years now.

Ghana can learn from Saudi Arabia where Solar power has been incredibly popular because of the height of the day, most energy is used for heating and cooling, which is generated from solar power. It's a much more effective and affordable and sensible way to power heating and cooling than to burn oil, which can be preserved and use in a more strategic way. This has been a positive benefit for Saudi Arabia and Ghana can do the same.

At the end of 2015, more than 10 MWp of stand-alone solar PV systems have been installed in Ghana. These are being used for lighting, water pumping, powering of computers for the teaching and learning of ICT, and vaccine refrigeration across the country.

Over 70,000 solar lanterns have been disseminated. Stand-alone solar PV systems are market-driven in Ghana, spurred by government and donor-supported community projects in the past.

There have been several of these government projects, but a few cases stand out for enjoying several years of success. Notable community cases implemented include the Weichau project, the Isofoton project – funded by the Spanish government, Renewable Energy Services Project (RESPRO) – funded by UNDP and GEF, and the ARB Apex Bank project.

The objectives of these projects were to provide lighting solutions and other services to these communities, and many of them worked successfully until grid extension reached the community.

All these projects were based on the fee-for-service model and community ownership was key to their success.