News Guide Africa

Tag: solar energy

  • Gov’t to roll out solar-powered irrigation pumps nationwide

    Gov’t to roll out solar-powered irrigation pumps nationwide

    The government says it will soon roll out solar-powered irrigation pumps as part of efforts to enhance agricultural productivity.

    Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, disclosed this at the seventh meeting of the International Solar Alliance regional committee for Africa.

    Addressing the media, the minister explained that the initiative is expected to reduce reliance on rain-fed farming and improve resilience in the agriculture sector.

    “I have had very fruitful discussions with the Director General [of the International Solar Alliance], and immediately, what we want to set forth is to work to deploy solar irrigation pumps across the country.

    “For some parts of the country, for close to like six months during the dry season, because our farmers depend on rain-fed agriculture, they virtually have nothing to do.

    “India has pioneered it and we want to learn from them. They have agreed that they will work and collaborate with us so that we can install these solar pumps. By installing these solar pumps, what will happen is Ghanaians will be able to engage in productive all year-round farming. We have signed some MoUs,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Director-General of the International Solar Alliance, Ashish Khanna, announced a US$200 million facility to accelerate the adoption of solar solutions across Africa.

    “We were proud and privileged to have 19 ministers from African countries and 39 countries represented. They heard and ratified the strategy of the International Solar Alliance of moving from ambition to action by having the support of an African solar facility which is a catalytic finance of US$200 million with the first US$75 million to be operationalized before the end of 2025.

    “It will leverage investments of more than US$800 million of decentralized renewable energy in the private sector of Africa starting with the first fund in Nigeria,” he detailed.

    At the seventh meeting of the ISA Regional Committee for the Africa Region, the Ministerial Session on the African Solar Facility (ASF) focused on mobilizing domestic finance to scale solar deployment. The ASF, a blended catalytic finance initiative, has been designed to de-risk solar investments, mobilize local resources, and attract private capital.

    Ministers and partners shared perspectives on an eco-system approach that ensures bankability of projects, emphasizing transparent procurement, secure payment systems, and targeted equity support. Discussions also highlighted the role of public-private collaboration and catalytic finance in accelerating large-scale deployment.

    The session highlighted leveraging local financial systems to support renewable energy investment, reinforcing public-private partnerships for project implementation and using catalytic finance to crowd in private sector resources.

    The discussions concluded that the ASF will serve as a key instrument for scalable, sustainable, and bankable solar projects, advancing ISA’s focus on action-oriented, country-led implementation.

     

  • African leaders and International Solar Alliance chart bold path for solar future in Accra

    African leaders and International Solar Alliance chart bold path for solar future in Accra

    Africa’s solar revolution gained fresh momentum last week as the Seventh Meeting of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Regional Committee for Africa was held in Accra.

    The gathering brought together African energy ministers, international partners, and development institutions to craft actionable strategies for expanding solar energy access, innovation, and climate-resilient growth.

    Presiding over the meeting, Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor, Ghana’s Minister of Energy and Green Transition, underscored that solar energy is more than an environmental imperative it is a driver of economic transformation.

    “Advancing Africa’s energy transition is central to sustainable growth and shared prosperity. About 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity. This is both a challenge and an opportunity to build bankable projects, attract private capital, and close the continent’s energy gap,” Jinapor said.

    Ghana, alongside Seychelles, serves as ISA Vice President for the Africa Region.

    Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, emphasised that economic progress must rest on clean, reliable, and affordable energy.

    “Partnerships forged here can help Africa rise above the current 2% share of global clean energy investment. Ghana is ready to lead by example,” he affirmed.

    Adding a global perspective, Ms. Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and UN Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All, stressed that solar remains the fastest and least-cost solution for expanding access.

    “Even when connected, the average African consumes just 400 kWh per year compared to 13,000 kWh in the U.S. This inequity must not define our transition story. Africa must invest in Africa our sovereign funds, pension assets, and banks can unlock the capital needed for distributed renewables,” she said.

    France and India co-presidents of ISA pledged renewed commitment.

    H.E. Jules Armand Beaussieux, French Ambassador to Ghana, highlighted solar as a foundation for climate action, industrial growth, and job creation.

    H.E. Manish Gupta, India’s High Commissioner to Ghana, reinforced India’s “One Sun, One World, One Grid” vision, citing joint efforts in solar home systems, water pumps, and clean cooking.

    ISA’s Director General, Mr. Ashish Khanna, framed the Alliance’s new strategy as a shift from ambition to action.

    “Access to energy is a human right. Our approach—through innovative financing, local capacity building, and partnerships—will empower countries to design their own solutions,” he noted.

    Country Partnership Frameworks (CPFs): Ghana, Nigeria, and The Gambia signed CPFs with ISA, focusing on solar rooftops, mini-grids, agriculture applications, and institutional support.

    Solar for Agriculture: Programmes to scale solar-powered irrigation, cold storage, and farm systems aim to cut Africa’s US$400 billion food import bill while boosting jobs and resilience.

    Mission 300 Alignment: ISA is committed to supporting “Mission 300”—a US$48 billion concessional financing initiative to electrify 300 million Africans.

    Africa Solar Facility: Managed by Africa 50, the US$200 million catalytic fund seeks to mobilise over 20x private capital. Nigeria’s Sovereign Investment Authority pledged up to US$150 million.

    Digital Transformation: ISA unveiled AI-driven energy tools and “digital twins” for utilities to optimise solar integration, lower costs, and enhance reliability.

    Equity and Capacity Building: Expansion of Solar Technology Application Resource Centres (STAR-Cs) will ensure inclusive growth across underserved communities.

    Mr Seth Terkper, economic advisor to Ghana’s President, captured the moment: “Africa holds nearly 60% of the world’s best solar resources. With strategic financing and capacity building, we can leapfrog outdated systems and lead the world in distributed renewable energy solutions.”

    The ISA’s Africa Regional Committee, comprising 39 Member States and 7 Signatories, meets annually to coordinate policies, review progress, and strengthen solar development efforts across the continent.

    Founded in 2015 by India and France at COP21 in Paris, the International Solar Alliance (ISA) is the first intergovernmental body headquartered in India.

    With 124 Members and Signatories, ISA champions affordable, sustainable solar power to advance energy access, drive investment, and cut carbon emissions.

    Through partnerships with multilateral banks, governments, and the private sector, ISA designs business models, builds regulatory capacity, reduces technology costs, and mobilises financing paving the way for solar-powered solutions in agriculture, healthcare, transport, and industry.

  • Ghana signs $69.88m renewable energy deal to enhance electricity access

    Ghana signs $69.88m renewable energy deal to enhance electricity access

    Ghana has signed a $69.88 million renewable energy agreement to enhance electricity access in the next four years.

    Under the agreement, about 6,890 households, 6,001 Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), and 6,890 public buildings will be connected to electricity.

    About 1,350 schools and 500 health centres would also benefit from the project, which would include the design, engineering, supply, construction, installation, testing, and commissioning of mini-grids and standalone systems.

    Seventy communities across nine Island districts through mini-grids, 505 communities in 11 districts through standalone solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in the country.

    The “Scaling-up renewable energy Programme (SREP),” is to close Ghana’s 12.8 per cent electricity reach deficit by increasing access to clean and reliable energy and support socio-economic development.

    It is to also help reduce public sector electricity debt as well as bills for SMEs and households while supporting the implementation of environmental, climate, and social management plans in the country.

    Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister of Finance signed the protocol agreement with Dr Akinwumi Akin Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group.

    He also signed the financial agreement of the project with Mr. Dominique Paravicini, AfDB’s Governor for Switzerland.

    Speaking at the signing of the agreement, Mr. Ofori-Atta, said the project: “Dovetails fittingly into an urgent global agenda and demonstrates our country’s commitment to enhance the economic and social viability of low carbon investments.

    It is also in support of the country’s commitment to creating new energy-efficient markets and stave-off a future energy crisis by achieving energy sufficiency.

    The project also: “Fully align with the Government’s overarching ambition of increasing the contribution of Renewable Energy in the generation mix to 10 per cent by 2030 while achieving our emission reduction targets,” he added.

    Mr. Ofori-Atta indicated that the project would provide stable and cheaper electricity to hundreds of people across the country and usher in new economic opportunities, particularly for women in rural areas.

    On his part, Dr. Adesina noted that the project would support Ghana in meeting its renewable energy requirement on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and build a resilient economy.

    “This project will increase access to clean and reliable electricity services and support low carbon socio-economic development of Ghana. It will directly support Ghana’s efforts in building resilience to the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

    This would be done through the provision of electricity to healthcare centres, Island communities, enabling the refrigeration of vaccines and testing facilities for COVID-19.

    “The project will facilitate the self-sufficiency of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), through rooftop solar power generation and storage under the net metering component,” he added.

    Mr. Paravicini, said that the signing of the agreement showed Switzerland’s continuous support to bring sustainable and affordable electricity to households and businesses.

    SREP would be implemented between 2022 and 2025, under three components; the first would comprise of the development of 38 mini-grids and standalone solar PV systems for 2,000 SMEs, 1,350 schools, 500 health centres, and 400 communities.

    The second component, which is net metering, aims at up-scaling existing projects to about 12,000 units of roof-mounted net-metered solar PV systems to reduce public sector electricity debt and bills for SMEs and households.

    The final component would be the supervision of works including operating costs for the SREP Project Implementation Unit, Distribution Utility, and the implementation of environmental, climate, and social management plans.

    Source: GNA