Effect of Solar Tracking on the Economic Viability of a Large-Scale PV Power Plant

This paper evaluated the economic potential of three different photovoltaic energy technologies at a selected site, Wa, in the Upper West region of Ghana. The cost of energy and net present value metrics were used to ascertain the cost-effectiveness of these technologies (fixed, single and double axis tracker systems). From the analysis, all three technologies are economically viable at the selected site, however, a sensitivity analysis shows that the fixed axis tracker is unviable at a discount rate above 2 % whiles that of the single and double axis power plants also become impracticable at a discount rate above 6 % using the financial input parameters adopted for the study. This is an indication that, even though the selected site may have the required solar radiation for the development of large-scale PV power plant, there is the need to create the necessary conducive financial environment to enable such projects to become viable. The double axis tracking system was identified as the optimum system that should be deployed at the selected site to get the best in terms of affordability of electricity to consumers and equity payback. © 2020 Ephraim Bonah Agyekum et al., published by Sciendo 2020

Nuclear energy for sustainable development: SWOT analysis on Ghana's nuclear agenda

The development of clean and sustainable energy around the world has become a necessity as a result of the negative effect energy generated from fossil fuel have on the environment. Ghana intends to add nuclear power to its generation mix by 2029. This paper uses the SWOT analysis tool to assess the internal strengths and weaknesses as well as the external opportunities and threats in the country relative to its nuclear power program. We found out that despite the country's effort towards meeting the requirements for the licensing, contracting, construction and operation of the facility, there are still some important loopholes which could delay the process. The research found out that Ghana has a lot of strengths and opportunities that makes an investment in nuclear power an economically viable option. However, issues such as porous security system, corruption, porous borders and policy discontinuity due to changes in political power are threats to the smooth implementation and operation of a nuclear power plant. The research therefore recommended to the government of Ghana to pay critical attention to some of these loopholes. We also looked at a particular weakness which is financing and provided some funding options for its development. © 2019 The Author