The country is moving closer to achieving its target of generating 10 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030 under its National Energy Transition Framework (NETF), aimed at reaching net-zero emissions by 2060.
The latest development is the sod-cutting of a 200-megawatt peak (MWp) Solar Photovoltaic (PV) park by Solar for Industries (SFI) at Dawa Industrial Park in the Greater Accra Region.
The project, estimated to cost US$150million, marks a key step in efforts to expand clean energy access and promote low-carbon industrial growth.
In December 2023, SFI secured a US$100million facility from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to finance the project’s first phase, which will supply electricity to businesses operating within Dawa Industrial Zone.
Construction is expected to commence following the sod-cutting ceremony.
Officials say the project, one of the largest in West Africa, will eventually be scaled up to 1,000 MW as part of broader plans to diversify the country’s energy mix and reduce carbon emissions.
Over the next five years government plans on adding about 1,400 MW of new renewable energy capacity, in line with its commitment to building a cleaner and more resilient power system.
Ghana’s total installed electricity generation capacity currently stands at about 5,749 MW, with a dependable capacity of roughly 5,211 MW.
Renewable energy sources, excluding large hydropower, account for around five percent – or 270 MW – of the national energy mix.
The Energy Minister said scaling up projects like Dawa will be crucial in meeting future power demand while advancing the country’s long-term climate goals.
“Beyond its scale, this project is strategically located within the Dawa Industrial Zone to serve as a dedicated, clean energy source for green industrial operations, manufacturing, and export-oriented enterprises,” stated the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor.
The country’s total energy requirement is projected to rise from 8,195 kilotonnes of oil equivalent (Ktoe) in 2020 to about 41,725 Ktoe by 2070, driven by population growth and expanding economic activity.
Electricity generation is expected to increase sharply from 18,592 gigawatt hours (GWh) in 2020 to 344,272 GWh by 2070, with emissions peaking around the mid-2050s before declining to net zero as cleaner technologies are adopted.
Meanwhile, installed electricity generation capacity is projected to expand significantly, from 5,392 MW in 2020 to more than 84,000 MW by 2070.
On the other hand, natural gas-fuelled power plants will continue to play a key role in the medium-term; the transition to net zero will depend on introducing nuclear power and carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) technologies.
Analysts say nuclear energy is expected to become the dominant source of generation from the mid-2050s, offering a balance between cost-efficiency and fuel security as reliance on gas declines.
Renewable energy, including solar and wind, is expected to contribute about 20 percent of total installed capacity by 2070.
The shift to cleaner fuels, alongside adopting electricity and hydrogen for industrial and domestic use, is projected to reduce overall emissions from 28 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO₂-eq) in 2020 to about 14.5 MtCO₂-eq by 2070.
Jinapor averred that by integrating renewable power directly into an industrial enclave, “we are demonstrating how green energy can catalyse industrial growth, job creation and climate action, the three pillars of our energy and green transition strategy”.
He said the Ministry of Energy remains committed to implementing the NETF, adding that Dawa Solar Park is fully aligned with the Renewable Energy Master Plan (REMP).
The ministry, he disclosed, is finalising a REMP update to guide Ghana’s renewable energy sector from 2026 to 2030.
As part of this, a five-year strategic plan is being developed to accelerate implementation and ensure government accountability.
“This US$3.4billion plan will ensure development of the entire renewable energy value chain, promote e-mobility and guide the creation of three green economic zones in the Central, Volta and Savannah Regions,” he said.
President John Dramani Mahama, the ceremony’s guest of honour, said the project – developed by SFI, a subsidiary of Quarm Investments, in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and with technical support from the Enclave Power Company (EPC) – marks a significant shift toward renewable industrial energy.
“This facility will produce clean, stable, and affordable electricity dedicated to Ghana’s manufacturing and export zone. This is the core of our 24-hour economy and industrial recovery programme. When we launched the RESET agenda, we pledged to make energy the catalyst for inclusive industrialisation,” he said.
The president added that achieving renewable energy targets will help industries remain competitive under emerging global trade rules, including the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, which will soon penalise exports from high-emission countries.
“Investing in solar-powered industrial parks today helps protect Ghanaian jobs, maintain market access, and position our industries to compete and export confidently under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and other global trade agreements,” he added.
