A newly constructed 20MW power plant in Ghana has started operation. The power plant was constructed by Chinese technology firm Beijing Xiaocheng Company (BXC). The plant is described as the first large-scale project of its kind in Ghana that aligns itself with the government incentives to increase the renewable energy output to 10% come 2020.
The plant has been delivered to full-operation within the period of 6 to 8 months of the construction period. The project is located in GomoaOnyandze in the Central Region, about 20km from Accra. The plant is erected on a 40.5-hectare piece of land and constitutes the country’s largest PV installation, injecting about 20MW into the national grid through the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
According to Luan Ye, Project Manager, BXC had initially invested US$30m towards the construction of the solar plant. The company has also been assisting the ECG to combat transmission losses and provide assistant in Ghana’s energy challenges.
Currently, the plant operates at a 20MW capacity power generation, although BXC labels it a 40MW project, since the company expects it will double its output in the near future.
In 2015, the government of Ghana had invested US$230m to boost its renewable energy incentives through its Scaling-up Renewable Energy Programme (SREP).The project plan was initiated back in 2012 by a subsidiary of BXC Beijing China, BXC Ghana; under a PPA with ECG.
The project was solely funded by the parent company without any government financing. The new PV plant marks a significant step in Ghana’s renewable energy efforts; as the country’s second biggest power plant in Navrongo is 2MW. Recently, Ghana launched a 30MW PV module manufacturing plant in Kapone to boost the country’s generation capacity.