The country also invested in the $1
billion West African Gas Project which
promised to deliver 4000 MW to it partner countries is yet to realize its full
potential. In light of this it will be much prudent for government to explore
other avenues of bring an end to the continents energy crises.
Ghana is currently experiencing
one of its worst energy crises, which industry experts says could become worst
if measures are not taken in place to address this curtailing problem. Already industries
and businesses are feeling the pressure of the country’s economic challenges
which has brought on told hardship to its citizens and on top of it is this
energy crises, most businesses may have to adopt cost cutting measures to
remain in business. Already the nation President, Mr. John D. Mahama and its
government has come under serious criticism after he promise in its state of
the nation address and end to the dumsor issues that the country has faced over
the years after Nigeria reportedly increase gas supply to the country to power
its country growing energy need . Political opponents were waiting to take a pound of flesh on the
President, and this came when Nigeria had to cut down its gas supply due to
generation problems after the president’s promise. This situation is not only
prevalent in Ghana but other West African countries that are constantly looking
for avenues to find solution to its power generation capacity. It is high time
they take a look at solar energy which some so called energy experts will argue
that is not viable despite the continents unlimited free supply of sun. it is
no doubt that they are just making unnecessary arguments whiles their sister
nations in Africa are making serious investment into the venture. Even a
partnership with some European nations and North Africa to build the world’s largest concentrating
solar power plant (CSP) using just 0.3% of the Saharan Desert.
 |
| The Desertec Foundation Project |
The Desertec Foundation made up of scientists,
businesses and government executives lead the project which is now on hold due
to issues being worked out among partners. This however means other nations
cannot embark on their own projects in their back yards. This however needs a
lot of support from government instead of spending huge amounts on issues that
will yield no positive results.
An example is Morocco’s Solar Plan
Project which has being regarded as one of the world’s largest and ambitious
solar energy project. This project when completed will put them towards a path
of secure and sustainable energy supply. Already the country is the largest
importer of fossil fuels in North Africa to generate energy. The aim of the
project is to generate 2 Giga Watts of solar energy by 2020 by building five
solar power plants with modern solar thermal, photovoltaic and concentrated
solar power mechanism. The country is also investing in the largest wind farm
in Africa. Located near Tangiers is Morocco’s wind farm which will provide a
generation capacity to save 126,000 metric tons of oil each year.
In Ghana a British Energy firm has being
issued a license to begin a solar project. The giant 155-megawatt Nzema project
will be one of the biggest in the world if completed. Mere Power Nzema Limited
a subsidiary of Mere Power UK and Blue Energy is embarking on the project which
plans to begin operation in 2015. The project will see the installation of
about 630,000 photovoltaic panels making it the sixth largest in the world.
 |
| Ghana's Nzema project site |
The
company has secured the government of Ghana consent to begin and been awarded a
generation license and a feed-in tariff for the plant’s 20 year operational
life. The project will cost $400-million dollar.
The Nigerian Federal Ministry of
Power is also embarking on a 10 Mega Watt Katsina Wind Farm Project to boost
electricity supply in the country which is one of the worst in West Africa. The
wind farm which will consist of 37 wind turbines with a power of 275 kilo watt
each was awarded to French company, Vergnet S.A as the EPC
contractor.
Democratic Republic of Congo
government is also attempting to harness the potential of the Congo River by
building the world’s largest hydroelectric project dubbed the Grand Inga. It is
expected to generate 40 Giga Watt of energy potentially lighting up the continent
from Cape Town in South Africa to Cairo in Egypt is yet to receive any firm
financial commitments.
In Central Namibia Soitec has
installed a concentrator
photovoltaic (CPV) demonstrated plant in its isolated rural village of Usib
near Rehoboth. The 25 kilo watt installation has been connected to the grid of
national power utility, NamPower and provides power to users including a school
in its remote region.
There are other solar projects
ongoing in other parts of Africa including South Africa’s project Eskom project
in Upington, Africa.
Ethiopia is also developing its
own renewable energy. The country which is one of the largest in Africa is also
one of the driest. Due to this most of its land is unsuitable for agricultural
production, causing the government to shift its focus to biodiesel crops that
flourish under the harsh climatic conditions of Ethiopia.
Castor bean plant and
jatropha curcas which are popular biodiesel plants are being grown in
partnership with companies from India, Europe, Israel and United States.
 |
| The jatropha curcas plant |
There are more than 62 million
acres of land available in Ethiopia suitable for biodiesel crop farming, which
if fully developed, would make Ethiopia the largest biodiesel producer in the
world.
In recent years, we have seen
efforts to increase clean energy output, with the North African nations leading
in solar and wind categories, Kenya in geothermal, and Ethiopia in bio-crops.
Once developed, the alternative energy output from Africa could supply all of Europe
and the African continent with clean inexpensive energy.
The continent of Africa is
endowed with vast untapped clean energy sources if funded and given needed
attention will put an end to the continents constant growing population and
need of energy. With major companies in US, Europe and Asia seeking to have a
bite of the last economic frontier it will be prudent for African government
takes an initiative to invest in power projects rather than wait for these
foreign companies to invest solely or much of the funds into such projects
which they will later sell back to us at exorbitant prices.
More information on clean energy
in Africa
REFERENCING
1.
Alternate
Energy eMagazine- Africa, the Untapped Potential for Clean Energy; Len. (http://www.altenergymag.com ) retrieved
on 22September 2014
2.
The
West African Gas Project (http://www.wagpco.com/
) retrieved on 24 September, 2014
3.
PennEnergy-
Ghana to house Africa’s largest utility scale solar power plant ; Dorothy Davis
Ballard, 4th March, 2014 (www.pennyenergy.com/articles/pennenergy/2014/03/ghana-to-house-africa-s-largest-utility-scale-solar-power-plant.html
) retrieved on 24 September, 2014
4.
Africa’s
largest solar(PV) power plant, 8th February, 2012 (www.blue-energy.com/africas-largest-solar-pv-power-plant/
) retrieved on 24 September, 2014
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