Story by: Karen Aryeetey
The adoption of renewable energy in public institutions is expected to save government about GH¢2.57 billion.
To achieve this, government through the Energy Commission and GIZ is rolling out the Public Facility Sustainable Energy Action Plan, PF-SEAP.
Speaking at the launch of the PF-SEAP in Accra, Acting Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission, Adjoa Serwaa Bondzie said the initiative will curb energy inefficiencies and cut down on electricity costs in the public sector.
She said,” this initiative recognises that public facilities should lead by example. Our ministries, departments, agencies, schools, hospitals, and other public institutions should not merely advocate for sustainability, they should embody it.
Through this programme, we are seeking to institutionalise energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption across public facilities nationwide. We seek to transform energy management from an afterthought to a strategic priority”.
She added, “the initiative also reflects a coordinated national effort to transform how public institutions consume, manage and invest in energy.”
“A successful 24-hour economy cannot exist without a reliable, resilient, financial and sustainable energy sector. Energy, as we know, is the backbone of productivity and the PF-SEAP directly contributes to that national objective by helping public facilities reduce waste, improve energy management, lower operational costs, and transition towards cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions”, Madam Bondzie added.
Board Chairman of the Energy Commission, Prof. John Gatsi said, ” the initiative aligns strongly with the mandate of the Energy Commission to promote energy efficiency, renewable energy regulation and development, and the sustainable utilisation of energy resources. The implementation of the Action Plan will significantly enhance Ghana’s energy security by reducing energy inefficiency, lowering electricity expenditure within public institutions and promoting sustainable energy solutions nationwide”.
Deputy Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Richard Gyan-Mensah said although Ghana had made significant progress in expanding energy access and improving generation capacity over the years, the sector continued to face major financial and operational challenges, particularly the increasing electricity bills owed by public institutions.
He added that, ” the successful implementation of this programme will require strong institutional coordination, technical capacity, sustainable financing and a long term commitment from all stakeholders. Together, we can transform our public sector into a model of sustainable energy management and accelerate Ghana’s transition towards a green, secure, industrialised and prosperous future.
The Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy, Madam Johanna Klotz outlined practical interventions the programme will adopt to improve energy efficiency in public institutions.
She said, “by investing in cheap renewable energies and by improving energy efficiency real money can be saved. By replacing old fluorescents in schools and hospitals with LED lights and adding occupancy sensors you can halve the spending on lighting. With this, a single regional hospital could save enough each year to fund essential drugs for its patients. For water utilities, electricity is almost one third of the supply cost. With high efficiency pumps combined with variable speed drives and leak reductions we can cut energy for pumping by 20 to 30 percent. Cutting the energy use directly lowers tariff pressures and improves service reliability. By installing solar rooftops for government campuses you can hedge against outages and shave peak demand”.
Public institutions in Ghana are among the largest consumers of electricity which places enormous pressure on the entire energy sector and threatens its long-term sustainability.
To help reduce this, the Public Facility Sustainable Energy Action Plan, which was launched will provide a comprehensive roadmap for improving energy efficiency and accelerating the adoption of renewable energy solutions across public institutions in the country.
The PF-SEAP is expected to attract investments of more than 180 million Dollars with projected long-term savings expected to outweigh the initial investment costs.
A PF-SEAP Institutional Technical Committee, made up of representatives from key Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, technical institutions and partner organisations was also inaugurated alongside the launch of the PF-SEAP.
The committee has been tasked with providing technical guidance, coordinating stakeholder engagement, monitoring implementation and ensuring compliance with sustainable energy policies.
