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The government of the West African nation, Ghana has launched a new digital application aimed at accelerating the country’s transition to renewable energy by simplifying how households, businesses, and institutions enroll in the national net-metering programme.
Net metering enables consumers who generate electricity through solar PV systems to feed surplus power into the national grid distribution network of Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the Northern Distribution Company (NEDCo) and Enclave Power in return for credits, ultimately lowering their overall energy costs.
Speaking at the launch in Accra, Deputy Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Richard Gyan-Mensah, said the web-based platform is designed to streamline the application process and significantly drive solar adoption across the country.
The user-friendly web portal he said will enable homes, businesses, industry owners and public facilities to apply for the smart net-meters for both existing and new captive renewable energy installations.
“This user-friendly platform will enable homes, businesses, and industry players to apply for smart meters for both captive and renewable energy systems. It will also allow us to track all solar installations nationwide,” he stated.
He noted that the initiative aligns with Ghana’s broader energy-diversification agenda and is supported by the Government of Ghana, the African Development Bank, the Climate Investment Funds, and the Swiss Government.
Swiss Ambassador Simone Giger said the digital tool will strengthen document submission, system monitoring, reporting, and data management to boost transparency and accountability in the renewable-energy value chain.
Acting Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission, Eunice Biritwum, added that the platform will help eliminate administrative bottlenecks and improve coordination among key stakeholders, including the Energy Commission and the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition.
Country Manager of the African Development Bank Group, Eyerusalem Fasika, highlighted the Bank’s US$27 million investment in Ghana’s renewable-energy drive, noting that it includes support for the ongoing mini-grid PV and net-metering project under the ministry.
The new platform is expected to accelerate the adoption of solar energy nationwide and provide consumers with a more seamless pathway to clean, affordable power.
Background
In 2022, the government signed agreements with the African Development Bank (AfDB) – Climate Investment Fund (CIF) and the Swiss government, represented by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), to undertake the Ghana Mini Grid and Solar Photovoltaic Net Metering project under the Scaling up Renewable Energy Programme (SREP).
The objective was to increase access to clean and reliable electricity services and support low carbon socio-economic development in the country.
The project is also to support the electrification of island communities, which make up 15 per cent of the remaining 10 per cent of the population without access to electricity.
Additionally, the project is also to deploy Rooftop Solar PV Net Metered Systems to reduce the government’s indebtedness to the power utilities and to reduce the cost of doing business by private sector SMEs.
These interventions are expected to help achieve government’s 10 percent renewable energy integration into the country’s energy mix by 2030.
