LONDON, United Kingdom – On June 24, at EnergyNet’s 18th Annual Africa Energy Forum, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency signed two grant agreements with Ghanaian energy companies.
“Together, these projects have the potential to add 70 megawatts of renewable energy to Ghana’s grid and to power 140,000 households,” said USTDA’s Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, Lida Fitts. “We are proud to advance the goals of Power Africa, a U.S. government-led initiative to increase electricity access across the continent.”
USTDA signed an $899,995 grant to Village Corps Ghana Limited for a biomass-to-power project in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Village Corps has selected Recast Energy LLC (Richmond, Va.) to conduct a feasibility study for a giant bamboo farm and steam-based power plant, which has the potential to generate up to 20 megawatts of clean, renewable energy. The study will include an assessment of the available biomass and biomass logistics, a site recommendation, an interconnection study focusing on power evacuation to the grid, economic and financial analyses, and a project implementation plan. Recast Energy will also be conducting a comprehensive social and environmental impact assessment.
“Village Corps is proud to lead this effort to help meet the energy needs of the Eastern Region in Ghana,” said Mr. Norman Beaulieu, Founder of Village Corps. “We look forward to working with our partners and the communities of the Akyem Abuakwa Kingdom to develop this innovative clean energy facility.”
The second grant of $926,614 supports the efforts of eleQtra (West Africa) Limited to develop a 50 MW wind power project in the Greater Accra region. The grant supports technical assistance for the project’s technical design and engineering, including a bankable wind resource assessment. Specifically, the assistance will include the preparation of technical studies and reports to determine the energy production, topographical, geotechnical, grid interconnection and market characteristics of the project. It will also include the preparation of tender documents for the selection of the EPC contractor and long term service provider, as well legal support in the negotiation and execution of project and financing agreements.
eleQtra is a leading developer of power and transportation projects in sub-Saharan Africa and has been delivering greenfield power infrastructure on the continent since 2005. eleQtra’s strategy is to develop, invest in, own and operate clean energy and transportation solutions. “This project will help meet the growing demand for energy in Ghana by diversifying power sources,” remarked eleQtra’s CEO, Mr. Gad Cohen. “We are proud to partner with USTDA to develop innovative solutions for the Ghanaian energy sector.”
The opportunity to conduct the USTDA-sponsored technical assistance for eleQtra will be competed through Federal Business Opportunities (FBO). A link to the FBO announcement will be posted to USTDA’s website at www.ustda.gov. Interested U.S. firms should submit proposals according to the instructions in the FBO announcement.
About USTDA
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority development projects in emerging economies. USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project planning activities, pilot projects, and reverse trade missions while creating sustainable infrastructure and economic growth in partner countries.
About Power Africa
Power Africa is a U.S. Government-led initiative launched by President Obama in 2013. Power Africa’s goals are to increase electricity access in sub-Saharan Africa by adding more than 30,000 megawatts of cleaner, more efficient electricity generation capacity and 60 million new home and business connections. Power Africa works with African governments and private sector partners to remove barriers that impede sustainable energy development in sub-Saharan Africa and to unlock the substantial wind, solar, hydropower, natural gas, biomass, and geothermal resources on the continent. To date, Power Africa has leveraged nearly $43 billion in commitments from the public and private sectors, including more than $31 billion in commitments from the private sector. For additional information, please visit the Power Africa website (www.usaid.gov/powerafrica).
Richard Avery, Regional Manager of West Africa, interviewed by AEF TV about the Ghana Wind Project and the newly rewarded USTDA grant.