The Energy Center, KNUST and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have organized a stakeholders’ workshop on Ghana’s solar energy export potential.
The workshop which was held on 12 September 2013 is part of an ongoing study by TEC and UNEP to assess the prospects and challenges in harnessing the trade potential of electricity exports from Ghana in the near term and technology and component export in the longer term.
The event was held at the College of Engineering, KNUST.
The study is being carried out in the context of UNEP Green Economy and Trade Opportunities Project (GE-TOP). The GE-TOP initiative explores the nexus between international trade and the green economy, showing how the transition to a greener economy can create sustainable trade opportunities, economic growth and progress in developing countries.
In a welcome address, the Provost of the College, Prof S. I. K. Ampadu whose speech was read on his behalf Prof Ahmad Addo, Acting Director of TEC, indicated that it was important for development which is much –needed in Africa to take a trajectory that is sustainable and less resource-intensive as against current trends.
The UNEP was represented by Messrs Lennart Kuntze and Emmanuel Ackom from the Switzerland and Denmark respectively. Mr Kuntze spoke on UNEP’s programmes and projects in Ghana with emphasis on green economy, trade and energy.
Speaking on the Solar Export Potential Study (SEPS), Mr. David Ato Quansah, a Fellow of TEC and a member of the project implementation team noted that the passage of the Renewable Energy Bill (Act 832), stable socio-political environment in Ghana, the existence of a transmission grid that runs across the country, inter alia, makes issue of electricity trade from green technologies such as Solar PV interesting to study. Ghana has had electricity trade and supply arrangement with its neighbours for decades, exporting over 1000 GWh in 2010.
The SEPS study team led by Dr Lena Mensah of the Department of Mechanical Engineering also includes Dr Anthony Osei Fosu of the Department of Economics, and Messrs Ebenerzer Nyarko Kumi and Emmanuel Narh, both of The Energy Center.
The workshop was attended by high-level officers from Government, Industry, Academia and Non-Governmental Organizations.
Mr. Ishmael Edjekumhene (Executive Director of KITE) who moderated the workshop thanked all participants for the high-quality input on the approach and methodology of the study and urged them to continue providing support to the study team.
For further information on SEPS, or to interact with the project team, contact Dr Lena Mensah as follows: email - ld.mensah@yahoo.com, tel - +233 207065185.
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