An Overview of Scientific Production of Renewable Energies in Ghana

Abstract

Ghana is experiencing an increase in energy demand as a result of increased industrialization activities. Nonrenewable energy sources, such as combustible fuels like petroleum, are the primary source of energy. Nonrenewable energy resources are associated with a number of issues, including environmental pollution. Renewable energy is a sustainable source of energy that is critical to the energy sector and the economy’s progress. Hydropower, biomass, solar energy, and wind energy are among the renewable energy resources available in Ghana. In Ghana, key institutions are responsible for the management and development of energy sources in the renewable energy sector. Among these institutions is the Ministry of Energy, which is responsible for the formulation and implementation of laws and policies, for instance, the Renewable Energy Act of 2011. Volta River Authority (VRA), Ghana Grid Company (GGC), and Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) are among the institutions under the Ministry of Energy. There are also regulatory agencies established by parliamentary act to ensure that all actors in the sector are working properly. Among these are the Energy Commission, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PUR), and the National Petroleum Authority. Active nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), research institutes and universities, and industry are also involved in renewable energy activities.

Production of Biodiesel from Nonedible Parkia biglobosa Oil under Acidic Condition

“…Shifting the reaction to the completion side means the ratio is supposed to be higher than the stoichiometric ratios. Breaking glycerine-fatty acid bonds in the transesterification reaction of glyceride to form biodiesel requires extra alcohol [ 15 ]. Thus, a greater ratio of alcohol to oil leads to converting the large amount of alkyl ester within a short period [ 40 ].…”

“…When compared with other oils which can produce optimum yields of biodiesel within a short time, the yield in this case is relatively low [ 9 ]. Further, the rise in the reaction time did not lead to a rise in biodiesel yield [ 15 , 20 , 46 ]. The reduction in biodiesel produced is because of further upward adjustment in reaction time which may have been caused by the backward reaction [ 9 , 38 ].…”

“…Blending and transesterification, however, remain the most popular methods. Meanwhile, among the two, transesterification remains a more superior and efficient method for reducing vegetable oil viscosity and yielding fuel with similar diesel properties [ 15 , 16 ].…”

“…However, recent studies by Takase et al [ 10 ] revealed that there are a lot of alternative nonedible high oil yielding feedstocks that can be considered as resources. One of the new and promising is Parkia biglobosa oil, which is gaining popularity in medicinal and pharmaceutical studies but very scanty in terms of a resource for biodiesel [ 15 , 19 , 20 ].…”

Ghana’s Nuclear Energy Programme: Now or Later?

“…These generation units can be installed at strategic grid locations to reduce the substantial losses incurred due to long transmission and distribution lines and enhance grid stability. Therefore, it would be more advantageous, at the moment, to think about renewables with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and other environmentally friendly and decentralized power production technologies or using distributed generation instead of nuclear reactors, which are likely to be located at Nsuban in the Western Region, which is the preferred option, with Obotan in the Central Region as the backup site as revealed by the Nuclear Power Ghana (NPG) (Takase and Kipkoech 2023;GNA 2023). The need for long-distance transmission is avoided by producing electricity close to demand centres, which lowers transmission losses.…”