Producers of renewable energy technology have urged Ghana to take advantage of the enormous potential it has in the area to close its energy requirements and reduce cost.

Solar energy technology developers and experts in particular argued that Ghana regarded as a forerunner in the promotion of renewable energy in West Africa, could capitalise on reducing the cost of solar power to connect its rural areas to the national electricity grid. 

At the second West Africa Clean Energy and Environment Exhibition and Conference 2013 (WACEE’ 2013) in Accra, panellists, therefore, called on the government to deploy solar systems and other renewable energy sources to rural areas to augment power supply there.

That was because rural electrification was often used for only lighting and entertainment and not for productive and commercial purposes, which should help them to generate income to retire their bills.

In a discussion on Sustainable Photovoltaic Markets in Ghana, panellists, including the Technical Director of the Energy Commission, Dr Nii Asante and the Chief Executive Officer of Solarkiosk GmbH, Mr Andreas Spies, said the productive use of energy in rural areas should be encouraged to remove the pressure on the national grid and also to generate income for the rural communities.

The conferences are being organised alongside the exhibition to invite expert views on systems, standards and how Ghana could partner Germany, considered a leader in renewable energy, and other European countries to replicate their successes in Ghana.

Mr Spies said while there was the growing need for rural electrification across Africa, the cost of renewable energy such as solar had fallen significantly from $250 per 30 watts solar system to about $150.

“This is an opportunity to harness the solar energy source for grid and off-grid electrifications. We, however, need the investors to come in to make the systems available to meet needs,” Mr Spies, whose Solarkiosk, an impact investing German company, has been installing simple and small solar systems in some rural communities in Africa, stated.

The company was finalising agreements with local representatives to start operations in the country.

“Currently, we build our kiosks with clay, hydraform materials and other cheap materials to bring down the cost of the system. We also encourage the productive use of electricity, which is to use it for business to generate income,” Mr Spies said.

Solarkiosk builds solar systems ranging between one kilowatt (kW) and 20kw with costs between 7000 and 10,000 euros.

But its predecessor to the country, Energiebau, a locally registered company with German partners, has installed about 300 grid systems across the country and  hundreds of off-grid systems for offices and corporate entities.

Dr Asante said rural electrification in the country had so far not been used for productive purposes, and that the government was working to include productive ventures that the rural folks could take advantage of.

He said solar and other renewable sources of power could be harnessed for use in homes, offices and for other commercial ventures to enable the country to close the generation and distribution gap.

Dr Asante, however, said although renewable energy technology abounded, it would take some time for it to take root in the country, although the Renewable Energy Act had been passed.