Increasing access to energy services in rural areas - REEEP ...

MODULE 10: INCREASING ACCESS TO ENERGY SERVICES IN RURAL AREAS
page 10.77
1. BACKGROUND
Renewable energy (excluding large-hydro) currently contributes an insignificant
part of electricity supply in Ghana. For example, by 2001, the estimated 4,000 offgrid
PV systems installed nationwide had a total capacity of 1MW, compared to
the grid capacity of over 1,700MW in 2003. 1 Electricity generated from renewable
energy is used at the individual household or institution level, and the systems
are usually not connected to the grid.
Renewable energy technologies (RETs) are not currently targeted for development
under a concerted policy regime in Ghana. Moreover, none of the electrification
programmes undertaken to date have included renewable energy as an alternative
source of power. This situation means that development of renewables
remains largely in the hands of individuals with little government support. There
is no process in place presently for individuals or cooperatives to feed the power
generated from renewable energy systems into the national grid. However, several
efforts have been made through feasibility and pilot programmes to develop
experience with renewables. One such project is the wind energy project described
in this case study.
2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
2.1. Introduction
Wind energy is becoming a mature technology for electricity generation across
the world. In Ghana, wind energy is one of the renewable energy options considered
as viable to be exploited for electricity generation. Even though the wind
speeds in Ghana are quite low in general, tests have shown that along the coast
there is sufficient wind to power small turbines.
The Ghana Wind Energy Project intends to provide power to off-grid communities
by using locally manufactured wind turbines, which, in addition to being cheaper
than imported models, will create the required technical capacity locally for the
development of the technology.
1
Electricity Sector Overview; Ghana Energy Commission