There is also the issue of the generation mix. Ghana’s power is generated from a mix of mainly hydro and thermal, with a certain insignificant megawatts of solar.
Over the last few decades or so, the country has experienced many load-shedding exercises as a result of a drop in the water level in the Akosombo Dam; where the hydro is generated, the high cost of fuel to power the thermal plant or insufficient electricity to meet the needs of the people.
Most of the time the problem has been attributed to the low level of water in the dam; making it very challenging to generate power from the dam.
Our governments have tried time and again to step up the generation mix, such that we can rely more on renewable energy, but with very few results to show.
In spite of the challenges in meeting our power demands, the country still relies heavily on hydro power to carry out domestic and industrial operations because hydro is cheaper.
The over-reliance on hydro and thermal sources to generate power for the country has become very expensive and, in some cases, very unreliable. That was why the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) had to adjust electricity tariffs by 78.9 per cent recently to save power producers from imminent collapse.
However, this move has not found favour with consumers, including workers, who are protesting against the high cost of power now.
There is, therefore, the need for alternatives to hydro and thermal sources to reduce the high cost of power.
It has been said that when Ghana’s gas project comes on stream, the cost of producing thermal power will be reduced.
Ghana is a tropical country that should not have a problem with renewable energy, particularly solar. Wind also should not be difficult to come by.
Yet, in the face of these abundant resources, our people wallow in want.
The sun shines throughout the year but we are unable to tap this priceless resource to generate power to facilitate production activities.
The Daily Graphic is happy that the government is exploring the option of solar power now to update the generation mix in the country to avoid the perennial load- shedding exercises that virtually slow down most human endeavours in the country.
It is refreshing that the VRA has secured funding of $22 million from KfW, a German government funding agency, for the development of a 12-megawatt solar power plant at Jirapa in the Upper West Region.
This funding comes on the heels of the inauguration of the VRA’s first solar project of 2.5 megawatts in Navrongo in the Upper East Region in May 2012.
Action in the development of solar energy is quite slow, while it is virtually non-existent when it comes to investment in wind.
The Daily Graphic appeals to the government to facilitate a conducive environment to motivate more investors into the production of solar and wind power.
We believe that if we harness these resources very efficiently, load-shedding exercises will become a thing of the past and all consumers will have adequate power for their economic endeavours.
Daily Graphic/Ghana
