Ghana’s energy sector will receive a boost of 200 megawatts of wind power following Swiss wind farm developer NEK Umwelttechnik’s plan to develop the Ayitepa Wind Farm to produce about 10 percent of the country’s total electricity generation capacity.

Speaking to Executives of NEK Umwelttechnik, Energy and Petroleum Minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah underscored the need to pursue other energy sources to enhance generation capacity and also meet annual electricity demand.

He also noted that the wind power project is also in line with government’s plan to generate 10% of the country’s energy mix from renewable sources by 2020.

Mr. Buah further urged management to ensure all necessary licensing and requirements are met, adding that the government has put in place investor friendly policies to ensure smooth execution of projects as this.

Chief Executive Officer of Mainstream Renewable Power, Eddie O’Connor said his company’s decision to invest in Ghana’s renewable energy sector was influenced by the enthusiasm in America and Europe about Ghana and prospects in the energy sector, as well as stable democracy over the years. 

He further described the project as the ideal solution for Ghana, because wind and solar power are the only proven technologies in the world which can achieve the dual objectives of speed of deployment and scale. 

Mr. O’Connor and his team expect the Wind Farm project to begin generating electricity in less than 18 months from start of construction.

The Minister was accompanied by Mr. Wisdom Ahiataku-Togobo and Ing Stephen Doku, Directors of Renewable Energy and Power at the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum respectively.

The NEK Umwelttechnik Switzerland group included Adam Bruce and Simon Genther, Moses Duphey and Michael Wuddah-Martey of NEK Umwelttechnik Ghana.