Adopting and Sustaining Green Electricity Energy Technologies in Ghana: A Review of Policy Perspectives

Abstract

As an effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), countries need to reorient policy directions towards green approaches and initiatives including green energy initiatives. Energy from renewable sources contributes to environmental protection, security of energy supply, employment generation, promotion of sustainable development and reduction of greenhouse gas emission. Though Ghana is much endowed with renewable energy resources only 0.6% of the energy supply (excluding hydropower) is from renewable sources. This paper reviews policy options and lessons from countries which successfully promoted green energy market and how Ghana could adopt such policies to develop her green electricity energy market. The review reveals that, for effective and efficient green electricity market to be developed in a country, a wide range of policy instruments such as promoting voluntary green electricity schemes, establishing renewable energy fund, providing tax incentives, promoting green certification schemes and feed-in tariffs must be developed and implemented using participatory approaches. These policies must proceed research and development which will stimulate clear policy objectives, cost effective considerations and long term visioning. Institutions must be designated for policy implementation and must receive capacity building for effective monitoring, evaluation and provision of feedback on the implementation process. This implies that green energy production can be improved in a country when effective policies are implemented.