TIG Post

Tag: Clean energy

  • Energy Minister assures of Ghana’s commitment to clean energy

    Energy Minister assures of Ghana’s commitment to clean energy

    Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh has stated that Ghana is actively pursuing a transition from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy sources.

    The country is already engaged in significant initiatives aimed at achieving this transition, which includes a target of integrating 10 percent of renewable energy into its energy mix by 2030 and the development of an energy transition framework.

    Speaking during a panel discussion at the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, Dr. Opoku Prempeh emphasized that these efforts align with Ghana’s overarching commitment to the global climate agenda.

    The initiatives represent Ghana’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and promoting sustainable energy sources in line with global climate goals.

    He explained that some of Ghana’s energy initiatives dated back to 2005, adding “This is when we launched the appliance standards and labelling regime to date where we have passed legislation to back same.”

    The Minister reported that a total of 124 megawatts of power were conserved through the replacement of 6,000 incandescent lamps with 6,000 compact fluorescent lamps as part of the lighting retrofit initiative.

    He further explained that the implementation of standards and labeling for cooling appliances from 2010 to 2020 resulted in the conservation of 10.16 Terawatt-hour of electricity for the country.

    During the same period, Ghana successfully reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 6.32 million tonnes by transitioning from diesel to natural gas to power electricity generation plants.

    Dr. Prempeh also noted that, at present, 63 percent of the population has access to clean cooking methods, with 35 percent having access to liquified petroleum gas, 27 percent using improved biomass cookstoves, and one percent utilizing electric cooking.

    “Government has supported the distribution of over 1.5 million improved biomass cookstoves since 2021 and currently supporting the distribution of another 500,000-biomass improved cookstoves,” he said

    Government policies and interventions, he said, had positively impacted the clean cooking market, keeping it on track for investments, scaling up, and commercialization.

    The energy sector has garnered significant attention and continues to attract major global players, thanks to the government’s new vision centered on a firm commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goal Seven.

  • Kenyan leader calls for Africa to lead in clean energy

    Kenya’s President William Ruto is calling for African countries to give priority to climate change, which has devastated the continent, by leading in development of clean energy.

    He says despite being the most affected by climate change, Africa has the opportunity “to lead the world and show that we do not need to destroy the climate to prosper”.

    Writing in the UK’s Guardian newspaper, he points out how millions of Kenyan people and in the Horn of Africa are suffering from a devastating drought due to climate change.

    “Climate change drives the droughts that affect the provision of water; destroys lives and livelihoods; cripples food production, and destroys our homes and infrastructure”.

    He says the current energy crisis, which has been made worse by the Ukraine war, calls for less reliance of fossil fuels and more investment in clean energy.

    He cites Kenya’s efforts, whose energy uses he says comprise 74% clean energy, while committing to a 100% by 2030.

    He says Kenya will now demand the delivery of finance and technology that Africa needs to adapt to climate change, at the globalclimate summit in Egypt next month.