First phase of pilot 5MW hydro-solar project completed in Ghana

The Bui Power Authority, a state owned renewable energy utility in Ghana has announced the completion of the first phase of a pilot 5MWp hydro-solar project, with 1MWp now floating on the Bui Hydropower plant reservoir. This 5MW pilot project is part of a 259MWp solar project which is being implemented in phases of 50MWp.

Bui Power Authority is leading Ghana’s efforts to diversify the country’s energy mix and increase the penetration of renewables in the country. The utility plans to complete the 259MWp solar project by the end of 2022. 

“The Government of President Nana Akufo-Addo has completed the first phase of West Africa’s maiden and biggest hydro-solar system,” said Ghana’s President, Nana Akufo-Addo in a tweet last week.

The floating solar plant, and additional solar plants to be built adjacent to the 400MW Bui Hydropower plant will have complementary roles. The solar plants are expected to boost the power generation capacity of Bui Hydropower plant, and ensure continuous power supply, whilst the hydropower plant will help address the intermittencies that the solar plants are associated with. The hydropower plant’s power generation capacity is often susceptible to disruptions of low water levels during times of droughts. 

Floating solar brings additional benefits of reducing water evaporation due to its shading, and the installations do not require valuable land space.

“For all rivers in the country where we can generate power, we should be able to target them. We are doing 259 MW; we have proposals from other countries to do some 300 MW. By 2024, BPA should be running not less than 700 MWp of solar by 2024,” said BPA’s Chief Executive Officer, Samuel Kofi Dzamesi.

Renewable energy currently constitutes 2,4% of all electricity generation capacity in Ghana. The hydro-solar project will help Ghana increase its renewable energy generation capacity and get close to its targets of sourcing 10% of electricity needs from renewables by 2030.