Launch of Ghana CCG Special Interest Groups
The official launch of the Ghana Climate Compatible Growth (CCG) Special Interest Groups (SIGs) was successfully held on 25 July 2024 at Tomreik Hotel, Accra. The event brought together key stakeholders from government ministries, academic institutions, research organisations, and civil society groups to foster partnerships and dialogue on Ghana’s Energy Transition Framework issues.
The launch commenced with opening remarks from the Director of The Brew-Hammond Energy Centre (TBHEC), followed by an overview of the CCG programme and its objectives in Ghana. This set the stage for the event’s main focus: the introduction and presentations of the five dynamic and impactful SIGs, each with a unique role to play in the CCG programme.
Each Interim SIG Lead delivered a 10-minute presentation outlining their group’s crucial role in the energy transition and their planned activities within the CCG programme.
Ms Charlotte Asiedu of KNUST presented on Financing the Energy Transition.
| The presentation outlined Ghana’s Renewable Energy Master Plan (REMP), initiated in 2019, aiming for significant renewable energy growth by 2030. It targets increasing renewable energy capacity in the national grid from 42.5 MW in 2015 to 1363.63 MW, reducing biomass reliance, providing solutions to 1,000 off-grid communities, and boosting local participation in the sector. Challenges hindering investment include a difficult investment climate, uncertain resource availability, limited technology, lack of experience, socio-cultural barriers, and information gaps. The SIG is set to support the Government of Ghana and financial institutions in developing policies, frameworks, and financial instruments to tackle these challenges, focusing on bridging data gaps to attract investors. Key outputs include creating a carbon market, establishing a due diligence framework for renewable energy banking, evaluating renewable energy sources, and facilitating public-private partnerships in financing projects. Future engagement plans of the Group will focus on developing a due diligence framework, enhancing local expertise through training, co-creating innovative financial instruments, and establishing a carbon financing framework to mobilise investment and support the energy transition through collaborative stakeholder efforts. |
Dr (Ms) Rejoice Ntriwaa Ossei-Bremang of the Global Youth Climate Network (GYCN) presented on Clean Cooking.
| This presentation detailed a strategic approach to promoting clean cooking technologies in Ghana as part of the Net-Zero Agenda. It emphasized the creation of a cooking energy database and developing a national adoption model to increase the use of clean cooking technologies. Key activities include replacing open-fire cooking with LPG, improving biomass stoves by 2030, enhancing access to clean cooking energy, and supporting research addressing gender dynamics in clean energy adoption. The plan incorporates climate resilience strategies such as nature-based solutions, blue carbon investments, and agroforestry to reduce cooking-related carbon emissions and promote sustainability. Advocacy efforts include behavioural change campaigns in local communities, while data and intelligence initiatives focus on using GIS and socio-economic data to inform decision-making. By integrating these efforts into national energy planning models, the Group aims to provide recommendations to mobilise resources and effectively achieve Ghana’s clean cooking and broader environmental objectives. |
Dr Godwin Ayetor of KNUST spoke on New Energy Vehicles and Sustainable Transport
| This group will concentrate on three main areas: Component Manufacturing and Testing for New Energy Vehicles, Grid Impact of Charging Stations, and Skills Gap Analysis. In the first focus area, they have completed several vehicle conversion projects and are working on ongoing projects such as remanufacturing BEV traction motors and high-voltage batteries. The second focus area examines the effects of EV charging stations on the power grid, including power quality, renewable energy integration, and profitability. Current projects in this area include studying the impact of fast charging stations and bidirectional charging on the grid. The third focus area addresses the skills gap in the NEV industry, proposing a technician curriculum and emphasising the need for training in various aspects of NEV maintenance and infrastructure. The Group also mentioned plans for an annual or biennial symposium to evaluate training needs and share information about NEVs. The Group’s work spans practical implementations, grid integration studies, and workforce development in new energy vehicles and sustainable transport. |
Dr. Patrick Boakye of KNUST introduced the Green Hydrogen SIG.
| The presentation focused on the potential for hydrogen production in Ghana using biomass via hydrothermal co-gasification. It outlined the hydrogen economy, various types of hydrogen production, and the challenges associated with current production methods, including high costs and infrastructure needs. The presentation highlighted Ghana’s biomass potential, presenting data on agricultural residues, forest residues, municipal solid waste, animal manure, and plastic waste. The research team in the Group conducted preliminary experiments using rice husks as feedstock, demonstrating the feasibility of producing hydrogen through co-gasification. The proposed concept optimises feedstock combinations, reactor conditions, and purification methods to enhance hydrogen production. The Group emphasised the importance of data-driven optimisation, life cycle assessment, and the potential use of byproducts for hydrogen storage. The Group concluded that there is significant potential for hydrogen production from biomass and plastic waste in Ghana, which could impact the country’s energy landscape. However, they stress the need for infrastructure development and collaboration with the relevant ministries and agencies to realise this potential. |
Dr Yen Adams Sokama-Neuyam of KNUST presented an update on the Inclusive Net-Zero Emissions Future SIG.
The SIG aims to support Ghana’s goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2070, as outlined in the country’s Energy Transition Framework (ETF).
The group’s key outputs include developing an interactive GHG emissions map, creating a GHG emissions monitoring and forecasting framework, establishing a methane management framework for the oil and gas industry, and investigating industrial decarbonisation solutions.
Ongoing projects include the KNUST Net-Zero Emissions Project, AI-Powered Net-Zero Emissions Tracking, carbon intensity assessment of oilfields, and CO2 Storage Resource Assessment.
The SIG hopes to gain industry and government support to increase publicity, explore funding opportunities, and engage with stakeholders.
A key outcome of the launch was the emphasis on aligning SIG activities with the national agenda to ensure relevance and impact. Participants stressed the importance of formal engagement with relevant ministries and agencies to synchronise CCG SIG activities with national plans, avoiding siloed efforts.
The event concluded with a networking session, allowing participants to forge connections and discuss potential collaborations. The launch was successful, setting a strong foundation for the CCG SIGs to contribute significantly to Ghana’s climate-compatible growth initiatives. The SIGs are poised to be crucial in driving research, innovation, and policy development in their respective focus areas, contributing to Ghana’s sustainable development goals and energy transition efforts.