A geospatial software toolkit on renewable energy resources and energy infrastructure in the country supported by REEEP was launched in Accra with an associated capacity building programme. The GIS is expected to decrease the cost of feasibility investigations, provide transparency and accelerate the regulatory and investment decisions in renewable energy.

This GIS is part of a REEEP-funded project that started with information on Ghana’s weather patterns, sunshine, rainfall and combined this with other existing data sets on electricity grid lines, road network, topography, population density, and land use patterns provided by the Energy Commission, Meteorological Service Agency, Forestry Commission. This data was all incorporated into an integrated GIS tool that can create and print detailed maps of a given area, overlay colour schemes, create different business and policy scenarios, and calculate the resulting costs, energy generation and emissions effects. Such low-carbon energy programmes by REEEP offer the potential for scaling up as climate change mitigation actions.

“This new GIS tool provides a multi-layered and useful picture for both policy-makers and potential investors,” says Dr. Alfred Ofosu-Ahenkorah, Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission. “It will generate realistic cost-benefit projections for different financial incentives and energy development policies, and this will in turn help Ghana diversify its renewable energy mix away from purely hydroelectric. We’re grateful to REEEP for funding such a useful tool.”

The Hon. Dr. Joe Oteng-Adjei, Minister of Energy stated that “I would like to convey the appreciation of the Ministries of Energy, and Environment, Science and Technology, the Government and people of Ghana to REEEP for the support extended to the Energy Commission to develop the software that will assist in renewable energy analysis, planning and policy formulation in Ghana”
 
The Hon. Ms. Sherry Ayittey, Ghana’s Minister for Environment, Science & Technology agrees, saying that “I wish to express my sincere gratitude to REEEP for supporting the Energy Commission to develop the toolkit that will be beneficial to both my Ministry and that of the Ministry of Energy. I also wish to ask REEEP to support us to gain access to the Climate Change Mitigation Funds for Renewable Energy projects financing”.

“REEEP has a long history of making targeted interventions that have a wider impact beyond the actual project itself” notes Dr. Marianne Osterkorn, REEEP’s Director General, “and this geospatial information system is a prime example. This tool will help investors get a clear idea of the potential of a given site, the overall renewable energy market and its future potential.”