SOLAR IS BEST SAYS AGSI
SOLAR IS BEST SAYS AGSI November 19, 2009
BY PETER ATOGEWE WEDAM
ISD-BOLGATANGA MUNICIPAL
The Association of Ghana Solar Industries [AGSI] has organised a stakeholders’ workshop in Bolgatanga for the media and representatives of decentralised departments including the Ghana Education Service, district assemblies and the Ghana Health Service.
The workshop which was funded by the business advocacy fund [BUSAC Fund] aimed at lobbying policy makers such as heads of department, non-governmental organisations and the district assemblies to accept the installation and use of solar panel systems in their premises as the cheapest and most cost-effective means of power.
A consultant to AGSI, Mr. Adabre Frank Adabre in a presentation disclosed that the association has been negotiating with the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service [CEPS] and VAT Service for the two bodies to scrap off tariffs on solar components in order to promote the use of solar energy in homes and offices which according to him is “clean energy”.
Mr. Adabre said AGSI submitted a proposal to the BUSAC Fund in 2007 to carry out an advocacy action to cause the removal of high tariffs on imported solar components noting that when this is achieved, it will become cheaper for Ghanaians especially those in the rural areas to benefit from the solar energy.
The consultant called on policy makers and government to budget for solar power supply in their development agenda saying solar has the potential to hasten the socio-economic development of Northern Ghana in particular and the whole country as a whole. He said AGSI is also working closely with the Ghana Energy Development and Access Project [GEDAP] and Affordable Lighting for All to ensure that the country embraces solar energy in the next few years.
Mr. Adabre revealed that about 14 million American dollars has been spent to procure 7,500 small and the same number of large solar systems for distribution to four districts including Builsa, Sissala West, West Mamprusi and West Gonja districts in the Northern, Upper East and West regions.
The Secretary to AGSI and Manager of Global Sustainable Energy Solutions Ghana Limited, Mr. Samuel Adu Asare in a presentation observed that Ghana is currently tagged as the most electrified country in Sub-Saharan Africa only second to South Africa with an annual per capita electricity consumption of 301kWh as at 2007.
Mr. Adu Asare noted that over the past two decades, successive governments have failed to promote and improve usage of solar power among Ghanaians because of lack of continuity and sustainability. He said solar as a source of renewable energy has the potential to contribute about 10 per cent of the country’s electricity requirements within the next ten years.
The AGSI Secretary disclosed that 400 technicians have been trained to install and service solar panel systems in the three regions of the north adding that only regular monitoring and servicing can prolong the life span of solar systems.
He said solar systems may become dysfunctional within shorter periods if users do not follow strict installation regulations. For instance, some users often mount electric appliances that consume currents high and above what particular solar systems can technically supply and this puts undue pressure on the system.
Mr. Adu Asare stated that the benefits of solar power are enormous. He said while the health sector can use solar to preserve medicines and vaccines in off-grid areas, the system can enhance teaching and learning in remote villages during night hours thus giving rural students the same opportunity to study at night just as their colleagues in the urban centres.
With only four members during its birth in 2006, the Association of Ghana Solar Industries now has a membership of 21 and seeks to improve quality of design and installation in the country, to make presentations to government to abolish taxes on solar components imported into the country among others.
Participants raised concerns regarding high initial cost of solar power systems and the unwillingness of politicians to formulate policies that will allow for the mass usage of solar panel systems in homes and offices.
BY PETER ATOGEWE WEDAM
ISD-BOLGATANGA MUNICIPAL
The Association of Ghana Solar Industries [AGSI] has organised a stakeholders’ workshop in Bolgatanga for the media and representatives of decentralised departments including the Ghana Education Service, district assemblies and the Ghana Health Service.
The workshop which was funded by the business advocacy fund [BUSAC Fund] aimed at lobbying policy makers such as heads of department, non-governmental organisations and the district assemblies to accept the installation and use of solar panel systems in their premises as the cheapest and most cost-effective means of power.
A consultant to AGSI, Mr. Adabre Frank Adabre in a presentation disclosed that the association has been negotiating with the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service [CEPS] and VAT Service for the two bodies to scrap off tariffs on solar components in order to promote the use of solar energy in homes and offices which according to him is “clean energy”.
Mr. Adabre said AGSI submitted a proposal to the BUSAC Fund in 2007 to carry out an advocacy action to cause the removal of high tariffs on imported solar components noting that when this is achieved, it will become cheaper for Ghanaians especially those in the rural areas to benefit from the solar energy.
The consultant called on policy makers and government to budget for solar power supply in their development agenda saying solar has the potential to hasten the socio-economic development of Northern Ghana in particular and the whole country as a whole. He said AGSI is also working closely with the Ghana Energy Development and Access Project [GEDAP] and Affordable Lighting for All to ensure that the country embraces solar energy in the next few years.
Mr. Adabre revealed that about 14 million American dollars has been spent to procure 7,500 small and the same number of large solar systems for distribution to four districts including Builsa, Sissala West, West Mamprusi and West Gonja districts in the Northern, Upper East and West regions.
The Secretary to AGSI and Manager of Global Sustainable Energy Solutions Ghana Limited, Mr. Samuel Adu Asare in a presentation observed that Ghana is currently tagged as the most electrified country in Sub-Saharan Africa only second to South Africa with an annual per capita electricity consumption of 301kWh as at 2007.
Mr. Adu Asare noted that over the past two decades, successive governments have failed to promote and improve usage of solar power among Ghanaians because of lack of continuity and sustainability. He said solar as a source of renewable energy has the potential to contribute about 10 per cent of the country’s electricity requirements within the next ten years.
The AGSI Secretary disclosed that 400 technicians have been trained to install and service solar panel systems in the three regions of the north adding that only regular monitoring and servicing can prolong the life span of solar systems.
He said solar systems may become dysfunctional within shorter periods if users do not follow strict installation regulations. For instance, some users often mount electric appliances that consume currents high and above what particular solar systems can technically supply and this puts undue pressure on the system.
Mr. Adu Asare stated that the benefits of solar power are enormous. He said while the health sector can use solar to preserve medicines and vaccines in off-grid areas, the system can enhance teaching and learning in remote villages during night hours thus giving rural students the same opportunity to study at night just as their colleagues in the urban centres.
With only four members during its birth in 2006, the Association of Ghana Solar Industries now has a membership of 21 and seeks to improve quality of design and installation in the country, to make presentations to government to abolish taxes on solar components imported into the country among others.
Participants raised concerns regarding high initial cost of solar power systems and the unwillingness of politicians to formulate policies that will allow for the mass usage of solar panel systems in homes and offices.
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