The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a grant of $28.49 million for the construction of renewable energy infrastructure in Ghana.

Development Diaries reports that the financing of the grant will come from the Climate Investment Funds (CIF).

Renewable energy is vital to the progress of the energy sector in Ghana, as the country seeks to replace petroleum fuels obtained from fossil materials.

It is understood that Ghana is faced with the challenge of sustainable electricity generation to ensure more reliable supply security.

Despite the over three-fold installed power generation over the last three decades for the West African country, it lost production worth about U.S.$ 2.1 million per day through the 2015 power crisis.

The AfDB-funded project consists of the design, engineering, supply, construction, installation, testing and commissioning of renewable energy systems on the island communities in the Volta Lake region.

The funds, according to the bank, will support the construction of mini-grids, stand-alone solar photovoltaic systems and solar-based facilities for storing excess power.

It is also expected that the project will contribute to closing gender gaps at the outcome level by creating 2,865 equitable jobs and livelihood opportunities out of which 30 percent will be for women and youths.

Ghana launched its renewable master plan in 2019 aimed at increasing the proportion of renewable energy in the national energy generation mix from 42.5 megawatts in 2015 to 1,363.63 megawatts (with grid-connected systems totalling 1,094.63 megawatts) by 2030.

Implementation of this plan has however been slow as the required power supply infrastructure requires huge investment.

Source: AfDB

Photo source: Jonathan Cutrer