Changes coming to Ghana’s power supply

While hydropower has been the main source of electricity for Ghana, the urbanization of the country has led to the demand for better power options.

New thermal and solar power plants are coming to Ghana after the demand finally gained massive investments in other sources of power from the country’s government. New plants of over 500 megawatts comprising the 221-megawatt Kpone Thermal Plant, the 110-megawatt Tico expansion project, the 120-megawatt Asogli Phase II, and the 38-megawatt Tema Thermal plant expansion project have reached various stages of completion.

More than 1,800 megwatts from five emergent power barges are expected to be added to the national grid soon. Others that are also in the pipeline are the Cenpower (350 megawatts), Jacobsen Electro (360 megawatts), and General Electric (300 megawatts).

As for solar power, the government has established 2 megawatts at the Navrongo Solar Park. After its success, the VRA has secured $22 million from Germany to construct another solar power plant of a 12-megawatt capacity at Jirapa. This dovetails into the government's objective of generating 10 percent of power from renewable sources by 2020.

The government and key stakeholders report they are aware of the dangers the generation shift could pose for energy security of Ghana. Production costs will increase astronomically with thermal, which will be eventually led to higher electricity bills to consumers.