In Ghana's 2023 electricity landscape, fossil fuels dominate the scene, contributing more than half of the nation's electricity with a share of 61%, mainly driven by gas which accounts for nearly 60%. On the flip side, low-carbon or clean energy, led predominantly by hydropower, makes up close to 39% of the electricity supply. Hydropower by itself contributes almost 38% of the total electricity generated, illustrating the significant role it plays in the country's low-carbon energy mix. Unfortunately, other clean energy sources such as solar and nuclear remain untapped in Ghana, with their contributions being close to none.
Is Electricity Growing in Ghana?
Electricity consumption in Ghana is on a modest upward trend, evidenced by the increase in per capita electricity use from 700 kWh in 2022 to 719 kWh in 2023. This steady growth signifies an 18 kWh increase, which is positive for the country's development. However, despite this overall increase in per capita consumption, low-carbon electricity generation per person is witnessing a concerning decline. In 1980, the per capita generation from low-carbon sources was 444 kWh, but it has dropped to 277 kWh in 2023, marking a significant reduction of 167 kWh. This decline underscores the urgent need to bolster low-carbon electricity production to meet future demand sustainably.
Suggestions
To enhance low-carbon electricity generation, Ghana can draw lessons from globally successful regions. For instance, leveraging solar energy like Chile's effective solar adoption with 23% contribution or learning from Lebanon and Greece, where solar accounts for around 30% and 26%, respectively. Additionally, exploring nuclear power can offer stability and a reliable backbone for clean energy, akin to countries like Slovakia and France, where nuclear energy contributes to more than 60% of their electricity. These regions exemplify how an integrated approach combining solar and nuclear can significantly boost low-carbon electricity production.
History
Looking back at the history of low-carbon electricity in Ghana, hydropower has been the cornerstone. In the early 1980s, there were fluctuations, such as a notable decrease in 1983 and subsequent recovery in the mid-1980s with small increments each year. The 1990s saw some stability with gradual increments, but the late 1990s experienced a marked decline in 1998. The 2000s were characterized by volatility, with several years of decrease and some years like 2008 showing a large increase. More recently, the 2010s and early 2020s have again shown sporadic changes. While there has been a net positive trend in recent years, with minor increases around 2011 and 2023, Ghana must intensify its commitment to diversifying and expanding its clean energy portfolio beyond hydropower to ensure a sustainable future.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.