250MWp SOLAR PROJECT (original) (raw)

Bui Power Authority was established in 2007 through the BPA Act 740 with a mission to support socio-economic development through the utilization of natural resources for energy generation in a safe, reliable and cost-efficient manner.

BPA was given a ministerial mandate in 2017 to develop renewable energy plants by the Ministry of Energy and in 2020 amended its enabling Act to develop its renewable energy and other clean energy alternatives in the country. The Bui Power Authority (Amendment) Act 2020, Act 1046, gave the Authority the legal rights to execute renewable energy projects on behalf of the State; undertake its own renewable energy activities; and also, undertake clean energy alternatives in the country.

The Authority identified the untapped potential of solar resources in the country and set out to pursue the development and expansion of solar PV resources as part of the Government of Ghana’s effort to increase the contribution of renewable energy in the energy mix by 10% by 2030.

The Bui Switchyard was expanded accordingly to accommodate and evacuate 250MWp of solar power for the creation of a hydro-solar PV hybrid (HSH) system within the Bui enclave. The HSH facility is aimed at augmenting and preserving the Bui reservoir by the generation of solar power when complete. This will be Ghana’s first hybrid plant utilizing both solar and hydro resources to generate and supply power to the national grid.

In October 2019, construction commenced on the first phase of the 250MW project with the development of a Solar PV Facility, a Control Room, and Transmission System. The initial 50MWp was commissioned in November 2020 and has been connected Ghana’s National Interconnected Transmission System (NITS).

Additionally, BPA has completed the construction of a 5MWp Floating Solar Plant, the first in the West African sub-region. Power from this plant will be transmitted through the Bui Switchyard to the NITS.

The Authority has had further discussions with GRIDCo, Ghana’s national grid managers, on locating substations within the North where the potential solar plants of capacity between 10MWp-100MWp can successfully be tied in to the NITS.

BPA has earmarked six (6) sites for these projects. The sites identified are in Bawku, Yendi, Tumu, Sawla, Buipe and Zebilla.

Bui Power Authority’s renewable energy projects are in line with its mission of supporting socio-economic development through the utilization of natural resources for energy generation in a safe, reliable and cost-efficient manner. Benefits of the projects include:

• Contribution towards the Government’s effort to increase the contribution of renewable energy in the energy mix by 10% by 2030. As part of the National Determined Contribution (NDC) towards the United Nation’s Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC).
• Job creation for both skilled and unskilled Ghanaian workers. Employment opportunities have also been extended to the Project Affected Persons within the Bui Generating Station and other projected affected persons at our different sites.
• Augment the preservation of the Bui reservoir by creating a hydro-solar PV hybrid system.
• Providing clean energy thus impacting climate change positively.
• Provide electricity to many more households which will contribute to ensuring the availability of stable and cost-effective power.