Biogas Potential in Ghana

Introduction

Biogas,a sustainable renewable energy form, is at a starting point of market development in Ghana. Due to its economic growth and development of the regulatory environment, the Ghanaian renewable energy sector is attractive for foreign companies from the sector interested in investing in Sub-Saharan Africa. As a result of the present day energy situation, characterized by grid instabilities and increasing power prices, commercial and industrial producers from the agricultural industries look for alternative solutions to secure constant energy supply to avoid production loss and to reduce energy costs. The installation of biogas plants on production sites is one of the most attractive solutions. It enables producers to dispose agricultural waste, generate electricity for self consumption,use residues as fertilizer and feed-in energetic surpluses to the grid at the same time.

Ghanaian Biogas Sector

This paper by GIZ provides a general overview of the Ghanaian biogas sector, including analyses on feedstock, potential client structure as well as on framework conditions, and identifies major potential market segments.

Ghana's economic growth and development of the regulatory environment makes the country's renewable energy sector attractive to companies interested in investing in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, grid instabilities and increasing power prices push commercial and industrial producers from the agricultural industries to look for alternative secure energy supply to avoid production loss and to reduce energy costs. Thereby, biogas plants on production sites is one of the most attractive solutions, enabling the producers to dispose agricultural waste, generate electricity for selfconsumption, use residues as fertilizer and feed-in energetic surpluses to the grid at the same time.

In general, agricultural industries show the greatest potential in biogas in Ghana with a relevant potential due to significant feedstock available for biogas generation, in particular, agro-industrial residues but also animal and agricultural residues. Very little biogas installations are implemented so far compared to the given biogas potentials in the agricultural sector. Most of the biomass remains unused.

GIZ, 2014. BIOGAS IN GHANA. Sub-Sector Analysis of Potential and Framework Conditions.

Buisness Opportunities in the Ghanaian Biogas Sector

Ghana has a significant potential for electricity generation from renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, small hydro and biomass. Against this background and with regard to the high oil prices and the large import dependence in the energy sector, the Ghanaian government intends to maximize the development of renewable energy in the national energy mix. Since Ghana has a regionally distinctive agriculture and food industry, the use of biomass for biogas generation, in particular, agro-industrial waste but also agricultural residues and animal waste will play a big role in achieving these goals.

GIZ, 2014. Business Opportunities in the Ghanaian Biogas Sector

Further Information

• Biogas in Ghana
• Ghana Energy Situation
• Biomass in Ghana
• Ghana Information Sources
  

References

GIZ, 2014. BIOGAS IN GHANA. Sub-Sector Analysis of Potential and Framework Conditions.

GIZ, 2014. Business Opportunities in the Ghanaian Biogas Sector