A Senior Manager in Consulting and Risk Services at PwC, Kenneth Asante, has explained that while solar energy presents huge opportunities for Ghana, it cannot be relied on as the country’s sole source of power.

Responding to a question on why a country located on the equator struggles with fuel costs despite having abundant sunlight, Mr Asante said the issue is more complex than it appears.

“You and I, as non-technical people, would always see it from that perspective, but when you talk to the technical people, what they will tell you is that you are having the sun during the day. At night, you and I need power. We store it, but it can’t be as independent as we see it. It should be in the mix, so there is an optimisation,” he explained.

Kenneth Asante was speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show which addressed the issue of “Sustainable Mining and Energy Systems, Why Does Electricity Cost So Much in Ghana?” as part of Joy Sustainability Month, Mr Asante explained that solar energy should form part of a broader energy mix rather than being seen as an independent solution.

He said that investment in solar must be planned carefully to ensure value for money and long-term sustainability.

“Let’s take advantage of the solar opportunities, but I think that investment needs to be made strategically, so you don’t have diminishing returns in terms of the significant investment made in the solar and you not getting the right opportunity of mix to help reduce the end-user tariffs. For me, that is really important for us to bear in mind as we look at integrating more renewable energy going forward,” Mr Asante said.

According to him, the focus should be on strategic investment and a balanced energy mix to lower tariffs and ensure reliable supply.