Bui Power leads effort to transforming Ghana’s energy sector through Solar

The Bui Power Authority (BPA) is leading efforts by the country to attain the 10 percent renewable energy status by 2030, according to its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Samuel Kofi Dzamesi.

As such, he mentioned that apart from the 404 Mega Watt Bui Generating Station, BPA was undertaking several solar PV initiatives such as; 250 Mega Watt Hydro Solar Hybrid Project, a 5 Mega Watt Floating Solar PV at Bui, the Tsatsadu Micro Hydro generating station located in the Volta Region, a pilot project that will add 45 Kilo Watt of energy to the country’s grid and the Yendi Solar project which is underway.

Mr. Dzamesi stated this during an inspection tour of a 50 Megawatt Solar PV site at Yendi in the Northern Region where he emphasized that apart from the renewable energy that will be provided, the country stands the chance to rake in huge revenue from the initiatives.

“The arrangement is such that after the contractor has finished Bui Power will generate the power and after eight years when the first sky had made its profit, the plant will be handed over to BPA which will make profit from the 8th year up to 25 years,” the CEO explained to journalists on the sidelines of the inspection.

The 50MWP solar plant at Yendi, valued a 0ver 59 million dollars, promises to revolutionize electricity distribution with a 5Km transmission network.

The solar farm, stands as the first of its kind – undertakensolely by an indigenous renewable energy company; FirstSky Group.

The tour was to afford stakeholders in the energy sector a firsthand information on the project, which is more than 60 percent complete and expected to be commissioned in November this year.

The team made up of Bui Power Authority’s management and board members, top officials of Indthe Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) and the Ministry of Energy alsoincluded the committee on Energy in Ghana’s Parliament, and traditional authorities in the Dagbon area among others.

The Bui Power Authority according to Mr. Dzamesi, washarnessing Ghana’s renewable energy potentials to power growth and development of the country.

“Bui power has the experience to supervise and to design and to ensure that we have solar plant no matter the technology. We are also piloting wind technology as part of efforts to enhancing renewable energy,” he added.

The BPA, Mr. Dzamesi stated is being strategic in ensuring that they build more solar plants to produce power within their catchments.

Earlier, the Board chair of Bui Power, Kwesi Ameyaw-Cheremeh commended President Akuffo Addo and his vice; Alhaji Dr. Mahamoud Bawumia for giving backing to the initiative. He also praised the Gbewaa palace for offering 140 acres of land for the solar tank project which among others has created jobs for the youth in the area.

“Experiencing at first sight that a wholly Ghanaian own company could do this, it means that we should continue to believe in ourselves and in the end, Ghana will be the best for it,” he remarked.

For his part, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Energy, Owuraku Aidoo and his counterpart from the minority side, praised the efforts of the BPA and the Ghanaian company First Sky.

“Parliament has an oversight responsibility, hence we are keenly looking at the progress of the project – per the Bui Power Authority amendment Act, Act 1046, BPA has been given the mandate to increase solar penetration in the country and it is in line with government objective of getting 10 percent of total mix of energy coming from renewable and it is also ties into the government’s priority for the Energy sector” Hon. Aidoo remarked.

The Executive Chairman of First Sky Group, Eric Seddy Kutortse in his briefing, explained that his company wasn’t just in the business of renewable energy; butresponding to the duty to invest in the nation’s future and to lead the charge for sustainable development, thereby paving the way for a cleaner, greener Ghana.

“Across the globe, the energy landscape is shifting, nations are moving away from fossil fuels and the world is looking to renewable energy. Ghana cannot afford to lag behind, we must seize the moment by harnessing the power of our natural resources – sun, wind and water to drive our economic growth and reduce over reliance on imported energy,” he stated.

He said First Sky shared in the commitment towards advancing the energy sector by making the nation stronger, more resilient and more self-sufficient.

Story By: Nelson Adanuti Nyadror |www.diamondfmonline.com |Ghana.