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 will provide information about frameworks, potentials and business opportunities in the Ghanaian biogas sector. A gross estimation of biogas potential of different sectors is shown, as well as specific project opportunities for energy utilization of biogas and landfill gas as representatives are identified. 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.

Biogas in Ghana Sector Analysis of Potential and Framework Conditions