The West African nation of Ghana will soon see a significant boost to its solar energy power capacity and its PV manufacturing capacity, according to recent reports from the Ghana News Agency.
The plans, put forth by the multinational firm International Solar Utilities, call for the development of 600 MW worth of PV power and 300 MW of PV manufacturing capacity.
The 600 MW of power capacity will be split amongst six 100 MW plants — spread out at already-identified sites in the country’s Western, Central, and Greater Accra regions. The module manufacturing plant will be built in the industrial town of Tema, somewhat east of the capital Accra.
ISU’s aim, based on statements from its representatives, is to use this proposed manufacturing plant to supply both itself (for future power plants) and also companies developing in neighboring countries.
PV Tech provides more:
James Brown, ISU’s chief operating officer, told the Ghana News Agency (GNU) that the plant would produce mono-crystalline PV panels under the brand of PN Solar, a manufacturer owned by ISU’s parent company, Sustainable Equities Group. The plant will have an annual capacity of 300 MW and cost an estimated US$85 million to build, Brown said.
Work is expected to begin on the site in June this year and when operational, it will produce PN Solar’s 72-cell, PN365W modules. ISU told GNU that it had already secured 800 acres of land in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region to build some of the proposed power plants. Electricity from the projects will be fed into Ghana’s national grid.
Given the country’s relatively stable government and political atmosphere, and its fast-growing economy and potential for solar energy, it’s no surprise that large multinationals are beginning to develop there. It’ll be interesting to see what happens in Ghana and the surrounding areas in the coming years with regard to solar energy.
Ghana is currently aiming to receive 10% of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020.
Also see:
Africa’s Largest Solar Power Plant To Be In Ghana
Largest African PV Project To Begin Construction Early 2014
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