The Volta River Authority (VRA) has identified two sites in the Upper East Region and two other sites in the Upper West Region for the development of a minimum of 10 megawatts of solar energy, Mr. Sam Appiah, Director of Engineering of the Authority, has said. He was speaking at the 50th Anniversary symposium of the VRA under the theme “Power Supply Development, What Drives the Choice” at Takoradi. Mr. Appiah said the cost of the project is currently estimated at between 10 and 20 million dollars and VRA expects to commence construction by the fourth quarter of 2011 and finish not later than the first quarter of 2012. Mr. Appiah said the VRA had obtained approval to selectively tender wind study and development of wind farms in four sites on the coast and four sites inland. He said the study of the eight sites would take one year and would start by mid-year 2011. Mr. Appiah said the goal is to initially construct 100 megawatts in two locations at an approximate cost of 200 million dollars. He said the VRA notified the Ministry of Energy of its plans to add Renewable Energy based generation to its generation mix. Mr. Appiah said the addition of renewable energy was a means of meeting increasing demand for electricity and minimize carbon dioxide emission. Source: GNA