Policy interventions in renewable energy for sustainable development: is Ghana on the right path to achieve SDG 7?

Goal 7 of the Sustainable Development Goals seeks to ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services and increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix by 2030. This target provides an opportunity as well as a challenge to African countries including Ghana. Indeed, the Ghana Energy Commission estimates that Ghana has about 34 potential hydro sites and enjoys about 330 days of sunshine annually. For instance, the three Northern regions, Volta and northern parts of Brong Ahafo have radiation levels with monthly average of between 4.0 and 6.5kWh/m2/day. These hydro and solar resources, coupled with abundant waste, wind potential of about 2000 MW and tidal potential can make Ghana a net exporter of power when the needed investment is provided. This paper examines the policy interventions in renewable energy in Ghana over the past 20 years. It also includes a review of the literature on the relationship between renewable energy investment and sustainable development and provides policy recommendations to fast-track renewable energy technology deployment in Ghana

Accounting for the effect of exogenous non-Economic variables on natural gas demand in oil producing African countries

With less than 50% of the population of Sub-Saharan Africa having access to modern forms of energy and the desire to minimize the impact of energy consumption on the environment, there is a need to invest in an energy source that is affordable, available and environmentally clean. Natural gas is therefore the preferred choice of energy since it has minimum impact on the environment among the fossil fuels and is relatively affordable. In this study, the generalized methods of moments (GMM), a dynamic panel two stage least squares and the general unrestricted model (GUM) through AutometricsTM are employed to estimate the demand for natural gas in oil producing African countries. The GUM suggests that oil producing African countries have been consuming excessive natural gas that seems to offset improved technical efficiency of appliances. The study finds that both economic and technical factors are important drivers of natural gas consumption. In particular, output exerts a positive and significant influence on natural gas demand, whereas energy price and energy resource depletion have a negative and significant effect. It is recommended that energy efficiency measures should be implemented in these countries

Investing in the cheapest form of energy: efficiency practices of SMEs in rural Ghana.

Efficiency has been identified as the cheapest and cleanest source of fuel. Whilst effort has been made in the advanced countries to promote technology and efficiency, little is known about efficiency in emerging economies in Africa. The purpose of this study is to identify the energy efficiency practices of SMEs in rural Ghana and also examine the barriers to energy efficiency practices. First, a descriptive analysis was used to examine the barriers and energy efficiency indicators. Finally, autometrics is used to examine the relationship between energy efficiency and productivity at the aggregate level. The study finds that lack of information on energy efficiency practices is the most important barrier to energy efficiency. On the practices, methods such as putting off electrical appliances when not in use or when closed, using new electrical appliances and using less appliances to achieve the same goal are some of the common ones adopted by SMEs in rural Ghana. The study recommends that the Ghana Energy Commission should intensify its energy efficiency education and extend this to rural areas

Determinants of natural gas demand in Ghana

The study investigates the effect of economic and non-economic factors on natural gas demand in Ghana at the aggregate and disaggregates levels. The structural time series model is employed as it has the ability of capturing exogenous non-economic factors. The findings suggest that both economic and non-economic factors influence natural gas demand. It further reveal that different sectors respond differently to these factors. The study recommends that policies such as natural gas price subsidies should be customised for different sectors to obtain optimal result

Empirical relationship between charcoal production and the social cost of carbon emissions.

There have been increased attention on how man’s activities affect the environment negatively especially in developed countries. However, there are countless number of activities such as charcoal production and electricity generation from oil in developing countries that have potential carbon related social cost. In this study, the Arrellano Bond dynamic panel generalised method of moments is applied to estimate the relationship between social cost of carbon emissions and electricity generation from oil sources, GDP, charcoal consumption, energy resource depletion and population in oil producing African countries. The findings suggest the predictors have either positive or negative effect on the social cost of carbon emissions. The study recommends in order combat global warming, there should be efficient and modernised charcoal production and electricity production from non-fossil sources

Filling the Power Supply Gap in Africa: Is Natural Gas the Answer?

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to review the reserves and production of natural gas in Africa and evaluate how it can help solve the power challenges of the continent. Design/Methodology: This paper develops from a descriptive analysis and literature on natural gas and power. Findings: The key finding is that despite increased discovery of natural gas in Africa, it has had minimal impact on power production. Limitations:This study provides a descriptive overview and is limited to only natural gas. It does not consider how other energy sources can contribute to solving Africa’s power challenges. Policy implications: This paper will draw the attention of both policy makers and the investment community to the opportunities in the ‘natural gas- power’ value chain and the need to invest in gas infrastructure. Originality: An overview of the power challenges and natural gas potential of Africa is provided

On the relationship between energy consumption, productivity and economic growth: Evidence from Algeria, Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa

It has been suggested that Africa’s growth is principally driven by natural resource rents. This is at variance with the growth in countries such as Korea and Taiwan where productivity has been identified as the main driver. In this study, the effect of energy consumption, investment, productivity on per capita growth in oil producing African countries is examined by employing a dynamic simultaneous panel data model. The simultaneous panel data model is able to examine the three-way causal relationship between energy consumption, productivity and economic growth. The results confirm the importance of income, productivity, price and investment influence the demand for renewable end non-renewable energy. The study recommends that there should be investment in productivity to enhance economic growth and minimize energy consumption

Policy Interventions in Renewable Energy for Sustainable Development: Is Ghana on the Right Path to Achieve SDG 7?

Ce colloque entend, quinze ans après le bicentenaire, faire le point sur les perspectives actuelles de l’histoire de la Révolution. Son plan sanctionne de nouvelles transversalités : société et institutions, champ du politique, Nation, conflit, violence, domaines artistiques et intellectuels. J.-P. Jessenne constate, dans « L’histoire sociale de la Révolution, entre doute et renouvellement », que l’étude des conditions de vie, des stratégies sociales et des groupes socioprofessionnels fragmen..

Analysis OF Energy Efficiency Practices of SMEs in Ghana: An application of Product Generational Dematerialisation

Reducing the amount of energy used in producing a given output is a cost-effective way of tackling global warming. In addition, energy efficiency promotes energy security and saves cost. This study is structured in three parts. First, the energy efficiency practices of small and medium scale enterprises in rural Ghana are investigated. Second, the study applies the Product Generational Dematerialisation method to examine the energy efficiency consumption of electricity and fossil fuels in Ghana. Finally, the general unrestricted model (GUM) is applied to energy consumption in Ghana. The results reveal that reduction in energy consumption among SMEs can be attributed mostly to blackouts and not efficiency as indicated by 72% of the respondents. Further, all three models confirmed that the consumption of energy has not been efficient. Further, productivity was found to be a major driver of energy efficiency. The study recommends public education and the use of new appliances (‘not second hand’) to save energy