Gushie Solar

Ghana

eleQtra is developing an up to 20 MWp solar photovoltaic energy project located in the Northern region of Ghana.

The Gushie Solar Power Project is being developed through local company Gushie Northern Solar Company Limited (“GNSCL”) which is a joint venture between eleQtra and La Honda Solar Limited (“La Honda”) 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 2020. 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 solar, wind, small and medium hydro and other sources. A feed-in-tariff regime was established in 2013 establishing tariffs for solar, wind, small and medium hydro and other sources.

In response to these regulatory initiatives, eleQtra has partnered with La Honda to establish GNSCL and has been issued a provisional generation license from the Energy Commission for up to 20MWp. GNSCL is in the process of acquiring a plot of land close to the the village of Gushie in Savelugu Nanton district in the Northern region of Ghana.

Primary Economic Benefits

  • 36 GWh of clean energy delivered to Ghanaian consumers annually (enough to power 31,000 Ghanaian households) 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 northern Ghana will transfer knowledge and create employment opportunities at supplier firms in the local area.

Primary Social & Environmental Benefits

  • 36 GWh of clean energy delivered to Ghanaian consumers annually (enough to power 31,000 Ghanaian households) will increase availability of power supply enhancing quality of life for residential consumers.
  • 600,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions avoided over a 20 year period (the equivalent of every car in Ghana driving 1,000 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 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.

Gushie Solar

Ghana

Sponsoring government ministries

Energy Commission
Ministry of Power


Approximate scope of project

Cost: $30 million
Timing: Closing 2016/2017


More Project Information

Project Size: 20 MWp


Partners

Commercial Partners: La Honda Solar Limited