Ghana to build giant solar farms and solar panel factory

Ghana is looking for its way to get on the global map of the solar energy market, and on a grand scale. International Solar Utilities, Sustainable Equities Group and PN Solar are set to build 600 megawatts of solar in the African country – six parks, each with a capacity of 100 megawatts. In addition, they intend to open a solar plant with an annual capacity of 300 megawatts. The idea is that the plant will produce solar panels that could help neighboring countries build the solar plants that are now becoming so popular around the world.



Yesterday we received a press release from the Sustainable Equities Group, which contains detailed plans. Here are some of the most interesting excerpts from this document:

Using the new glass-on-glass technology, PN Solar Ghana will produce 820,000 PN365 MonoGold Line solar panels per year at its facility in the Ghanaian city of Tema, equivalent to an annual production capacity of 300 MW. PN Solar Ghana will hire 300 local workers to build its production plant in Tema, with preliminary estimates slated to begin construction in the summer of 2014 and last just over one year. After commissioning, more than 350 workers will be employed year-round. PN Solar Ghana will work with the National Youth Association to recruit local staff, offering training and education programs to its employees and their families. PN Solar Ghana will donate a certain percentage of its profits to fund initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life and other charitable programs for the local population.



International Solar Utilities will use solar panels made by PN Solar Ghana to build six solar parks, each with a capacity of 100 MW mentioned above, each costing about $125 million. About 200 local jobs will be created to build each park. In addition, about 200 unskilled jobs will be created annually to service these power plants. International Solar Utilities believes they alone will directly create about 2,000 jobs in Ghana by building and operating these six solar parks.

Ghana’s total generating capacity is now at 2,100 MW, and with the completion of International Solar Utilities, 28% of the additional capacity will be added to Ghana’s national grid. The country aims to achieve a total power generation capacity of 5,000 MW by 2016. International Solar Utilities will help Ghana achieve its goal while contributing to the African country’s economic development.



Electricity and new jobs for Ghana, without harming the planet, is a win-win situation for all parties.

Source: aenergy.ru