The Bui Power Authority (BPA) has connected the 22.25 megawatts (MW) of solar power plant in the north-east of Ghana to the national grid. BPA connected the plant after getting greenlight from the power transmitter, the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) in April. Making it one of the largest solar power plants connected to the national grid in Ghana
Fred Oware, BPA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) commented saying; “So far, the only renewable power on the national grid is from hydro (water). This is the first time we are harnessing power from the sun and putting it onto the energy grid to be used everywhere.”
This is Bui Power Authority’s second solar power plant to connect to Ghana’s national grid after the recently connected 5MW floating solar power plant on the Bui Dam Basin. The solar facilities are part of a grand plan to hybridize the 400 MW Bui hydroelectric plant under the Bui Hydro-Solar Hybrid (HSH) scheme.
BPA last month completed the construction of a 50MW solar system, Ghana’s largest solar farm. This is the first phase of a 250MW project expected to be completed by the end of next year. The solar project is being constructed in phases of 50MW.
Diversifying Ghana’s energy mix
Ghana’s hydro intensive power system has been experiencing power supply inconsistencies as a result of recurrent droughts. The government plans to diversify its energy mix as part of the plans to ensure energy supply security.
Through the Bui Hydro-Solar Hybrid (HSH) scheme, the CEO of the BPA said the company plans to develop other solar plants in the northern part of the country, with six sites already identified. The company was given a mandate by the Ghanain government in 2007 to develop solar energy as part of the generation mix.
Ghana targets to have 10 percent of its energy mix come from renewable energy by 2030. The country has an installed capacity of 5 000MW with solar contributing less than 1% of the energy mix. Hydro power and thermal coal energy are the two main sources of power in the country.
