eleQtra is developing a 50 MW wind energy project located in the Greater Accra region of Ghana.

The Windstar Power Project will add much needed electricity generation capacity to the national grid of Ghana, reducing reliance on hydropower generation and resulting exposure to rainfall patterns while avoiding increased carbon emissions from oil, gas or coal fired generation.

The Ghanaian grid has suffered from substantial generation deficits due to a combination of accelerating growth in demand, long term under investment in new generation assets and low rainfall in the Volta River catchment. In response to these challenges the Government has set a target to increase installed capacity from under 3,000MW to 5,000MW by 2030. In addition Government has enacted a Renewable Energy Law and set a target for 10% of generation capacity to come from new renewables sources including wind, solar, small and medium hydro and other sources. A feed-in-tariff regime was established in 2013 establishing tariffs for wind, solar, small and medium hydro and other sources.

In response to these regulatory initiatives, eleQtra, on behalf of InfraCo Africa, commenced gathering wind data, between 2010 and in 2015, when a preferred site was selected for the development of a 50MW wind project (expandable to over 100MW at subsequent phases) and obtained a Provisional Generation License from the Energy Commission. Having invested US$1.7m to develop the early stages of Ada Wind, InfraCo Africa sold the project to eleQtra in December 2015 and continues to facilitate access to development and capex grant funding to support key aspects of the project development.

In 2015 eleQtra installed a 120m high meteorological mast on site and initialled a draft PPA with the Electricity Company of Ghana for the sale of energy from the Project. The project has now obtained a siting permit and we are presently completing land acquisition and undertaking environmental and technical studies. We aim to close financing of the project and commence construction in 2018 with operations commencing in 2019.

Richard Avery, Regional Manager of West Africa, interviewed by AEF TV about the Windstar Project and the newly rewarded USTDA grant.

eleQtra Staff Perform Maintenance on the Project’s 120m high Meteorological Mast

Primary Economic Benefits

150 GWh of clean energy delivered to Ghanaian consumers annually (enough to power 130,000 Ghanaian households or 2% of the population) will increase availability of power supply stimulating industrial development.
Employment creation in the local community during construction and operation period.
Stimulation of investment into the renewables sector in Ghana will transfer knowledge and create employment opportunities at supplier firms.

Primary Social & Environmental Benefits

150 GWh of clean energy delivered to Ghanaian consumers annually (enough to power 130,000 Ghanaian households or 2% of the population) will increase availability of power supply enhancing quality of life for residential consumers.
6m tonnes of CO₂ emissions avoided over a 20 year period (the equivalent of every car in Ghana driving 4,000 miles).
Benefit sharing with local host community will fund education and health programs.

Project Structure

The Project is being developed as a privately owned independent power producer (“IPP”) under a Build Own Operate structure whereby power will be sold to ECG under a 20 year PPA.
The Project will be constructed under an EPC contract.

Project Relevance

Increased supply of power will facilitate industrial development and poverty reduction.
The Project will play a major role in establishing wind power in West Africa and stimulating further investment in the sector over the coming years.

Windstar

Ghana

Sponsoring government ministries

Electricity Company of Ghana
Energy Commission
Ministry of Power

Approximate scope of project

Cost: $130 million
Time: Closing 2018

More Project Information

Project Size: 50 MW