Renewables will be next big thing

Renewables should be the next big thing for energy generation in Ghana because of the legislative impetus given to the country’s vision for that industry, speakers at the launch of an upcoming regional conference on energy and environment have said.

Ghana’s renewable energy law, enacted in 2011, targets a 10 percent share of renewables in the national energy-generation mix by 2020 -- meaning immense opportunities will unfold for investors and entrepreneurs, the speakers said.

“The target we have in the law means a lot of opportunities: but it is not enough to have the law, we need to implement the necessary policies and offer the incentives to attract investment into renewables,” said Stephen Antwi, President of the Ghanaian German Economic Association (GGEA). Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Ms. Sherry Ayittey, said potential exists for solar energy development -- particularly in the north of Ghana, where the savannah vegetation provides unimpeded access to sunlight.

“The problem with this source of energy is the appropriate technology that can help large-scale commercial generation for economic use,” she said.

She recognised that government will have to provide incentives that attract investment and make it cost-efficient to adopt solar power for household and industrial use.

The cost of solar power is yet to achieve parity with grid electricity even in countries that throw huge subsidies at the industry, and this will be a difficult challenge to its adoption in Ghana, according to experts.

Ms. Ayittey said also that wind energy can be developed in the Accra plains, “But there is need for funds and the technology to make such a project economical enough for commercial exploitation.”

She asked experts who will assemble at the West African Clean Energy & Environment Exhibition and Conference (WACEE’ 12) to put forward proposals and strategies for maximising renewable-power generation in Ghana.

Hosted by the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Ghana (AHK), WACEE’ 12 comes off between November 6-8, 2012 and will bring international investors in energy, water and waste-management into Ghana to seek opportunities for doing business and supporting projects in the wider West African region.

Patrick Martens, Delegate of AHK, said the idea for the conference is to create opportunities to develop regional energy resources, introduce new technologies, create jobs, and ensure a cleaner and safer environment.

Nico van Staalduinen, Managing Director of the Ghana Netherlands Chamber of Commerce and Culture, said Dutch exhibitors will be eyeing investments in the efficient management and treatment of water resources -- where the Netherlands has the necessary know-how and experience.

The Regional Director for West Africa of Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (DEG), the promotional bank of the Federal Republic of Germany, said his bank will be looking to encourage and support ground-breaking ideas and partnerships that will create new projects and investments in the region.

Exhibitors will also come from Ghana, UK, Denmark and the United States with interests in recycling, oil and gas, mining and power-generation.