PURC to attract investments into energy sector

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) in collaboration with Energy Commission and Ministry of Energy and Petroleum would soon operationalise the Renewable Energy Feed–in–Rates Scheme to encourage investments in the Renewable Energy Sector.

The Scheme under the Renewable Energy Act 2011 (Act 832) is to stimulate investment into the renewable energy sector to add on to the country’s energy generation mix.

It will introduce small to medium hydro, solar, wind, biomass, and waste-to-energy generation options in addition to conventional sources such as large hydro and thermal.

The key objective of the scheme is to ensure access and availability of electricity to consumers at all times. It further aims at promoting transparency, consistency and predictability in the pricing of electricity generated and supplied from renewable energy sources.

The Renewable Energy Act 2011 (Act 832) mandates the PURC to set preferential guaranteed rates for renewable energy known as Feed-in-tariff (FIT).

The FIT rate shall be guaranteed for a period of 10 years in order to enable investors recoup costs associated with construction, commissioning, operations and maintenance of plants and subsequently be reviewed every two years.

The FIT rate is expected to be gazetted by PURC and shall be published in at least one national daily.

PURC and its collaborating institutions have organised a three day training programme for selected journalists on aspects of Renewable Energy Feed–in–Rate Scheme at Akropong Akuapem in the Eastern Region.

Opening the training session, the Executive Secretary of PURC, Mr Samuel Sarpong noted that the training was to equip journalists to be able to educate the public on the Renewable Energy FIT Scheme.

The introduction of Renewable Energy Technology will supplement the existing energy generation from conventional sources, although it is not a universal remedy to the current energy crisis the country is facing.