- Episode #39:
Impact of
Power Crisis (1): Why Renewable Energy, and Options for Financing?
That we have a power crisis in Ghana is
obvious.
As to what ordinary citizens can do to find
cost-effective solutions for it is less-so. It is for this reason we are
dedicating the month of April to exploring the impacts of the power crisis on
different sectors, healthy living, and an exploration of what solutions exist
in renewable energies, such as solar energy.
According to a 2014 report by the Cape Verde-based EcowasCentre on Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency, the ECOWAS region
is one of the most active for the promotion of renewable energy and
energy-efficiency systems.
Apart from hydropower, the region is endowed
with modern biomass; solar and wind energy. Ghana, like Nigeria, has biomass
and hydropower. Conversely, Cape Verde has wind power. Ghana’s Eastern neighbor
in Nigeria has the largest installed hydropower capacity (under 2000MW), while Ghana
has 1,580MW in total with Akosombo; Kpong & Bui put together.
What’s clear from the ECREEE report is that, together,
ECOWAS can have a more secure energy-security.
This is buttressed by the fact that, renewable energy systems are tools that
can help propel economic development and create jobs. It comes as little
surprise, therefore, that in May 2013, East African Community decided to set up a Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency agency based on the West African model
in Cape Verde; and that the SADC as recently as November 2014 decided to setsame Institute up on ECOWAS’ model.
There is no gainsaying we need to be paying
more attention to energy-security and renewable energies.
As we do, we need to also take into
consideration what financing options exist for the procurement of renewables,
such as solar energy? Are there any tax incentives already in place, as the
PURC is calling for for SMEs? That news reports in March indicated that PURC
was helping import solar panels for SMEs speaks to the acknowledgement of the
impact of the power crisis on the Northern part of the country, where a number
of SMEs are also populated.
If this is part of the PURC’s advocacy, will
it scale it up to other regions and, most importantly, where will it get the
money from to take what is arguably a decisive step on providing financing for
a renewable energy source?
April is “Energy Security & Renewable
Energy month” on the Africa in Focus Show, and we hope to hear from you as we
have this very important discussion that will help offer some solutions to
dynamising both the country and sub-region.
Call us on the following numbers when
we open the phone lines at 14h30 GMT
+233(0)289.000.931 //
+233(0)289.931.000
Join
us if you can at 1pm on 14 April, 2015.
Guiding
questions
- What are renewable energies, and why should
Ghana be interested?
- West Africa is endowed with lots of solar
energy. Why has government not been patronizing solar long before the
power crisis?
- Will the power crisis help make procurement
of solar energy easier?
- What are some of the impacts of power crisis
on Ghanaians?
- What financing options are available for
Ghanaians?
- Why does Ghana’s Public Utilities Regulatory Commission
(PURC) believe SMEs need financing for solar energies?
- In the absence of specific and targeted
financing for private sector organisations like the Ghana Association of
Savings & Loans Company (GHASALC), can organisations like SNV assist
in the financing of renewables with public-private-partnerships?
Guests in the studio:
Ø Lovans Owusu-Takyi, Associate Advisor, Renewable Energy, SNV Netherlands
Development Organisation
Ø Bridget Menyeh, SNV
Netherlands Development Organisation
Ø Nana Yaa Jantuah, Director of External & Public Affairs,
Public
Utilities Regulatory Commission
On the line:
·
H.E. Charles
Josob, High Commissioner of Namibia to Ghana @13h15
· Eunice Marfo,
Executive Secretary, Ghana
Association of Savings & Loans Company(GHASALC) @13h30
- website of East African Centre for Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency
- website of Namibia's Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Institute
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