The Energy Foundation is the lead agency in a project with the GIZ, Energy Commission, ECG and Ministry of Energy to assist select households and SMEs on practical steps they could take to improve on their energy efficiency and reduce their energy cost. As the third component of the joint C-SIREA programme, the ‘Energy Efficiency for Households/SMEs’ project will focus on best practices that can help increase energy efficiency at homes. The Energy Efficiency for Households/SMEs Project will generally provide advisory support to end-users of electricity.
The target is to visit 10,000 houses and 800 SMEs in Accra, Eastern and Ashanti Regions. The Foundation has commenced work on all aspects of the project preparation with GIZ and is preparing to commence the implementation of the pilot phase which will train and send sixty (60) energy efficiency advisors (EEA) into 3,000 homes in Accra. The second phase of the project is scheduled to include the Eastern and Ashanti Regions. The pilot phase of the project implementation will be launched by the Energy Minister.
The government of Ghana has attached great importance to the development and integration of renewable energy supply into the national energy mix, with particular regard for its positive impact on climate change and sustainability. To achieve this aim and provide the framework for implementation of the Renewable Energy Act (Act 832) enacted into law in 2011. The GIZ on behalf of the German government has been assisting the Ministry of Energy to carry out this mandate successfully through the joint programme, “Capacity for the Successful Implementation of the Renewable Energy Act (C-SIREA).” The goal of this project is to promote energy efficiency in households and SMEs in Ghana, where the various actors/utilities will engage the end-users on the benefits and importance of energy efficiency.
The objective of the C-SIREA programme between GIZ and Ministry of Energy is to develop and integrate renewable energy supply into the national grid by creating an enabling environment for the transfer of knowledge, development and use of renewable energy technologies in the Ghanaian market as part of the overall power system. The programme approach is to improve the technical, planning and institutional capacities of relevant institutions and actors within the energy sector to implement the Renewable Energy Act.
By doing this, the Government of Ghana hopes to achieve its strategic goal of generating 10% of its electricity from renewable energies by the year 2020. A steering committee to direct the project is made up of Ministry of Energy, GIZ, Energy Foundation, Energy Commission, Public Utilities and Regulatory Commission, Volta River Authority, Electricity Company of Ghana, Northern Electricity Distribution Company and Ghana Grid Company Ltd.
Source: Energy Foundation
