Ghana commissions first waste-to-energy power plant

Ghana has commissioned its first waste-to-energy power plant at Gyankobaa in Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality in Ashanti.

A US $6.5M contract was inked between the German government through the Federal Ministry of Education and Research with four institutions in Germany and one institution in Ghana comprising three academic institutions, one research and development institution and a medium-scale industrial towards the development.

The 48-month project involves construction of a hybrid waste to energy power plant to treat municipal solid waste with a plan to later extend the concept to other parts of the country as this project could provide a blue print for further projects.

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Hybrid-PV-Biogas-Pyrolysis-Plant

The 400-kilowatt production facility, which will be known as the Hybrid-PV-Biogas-Pyrolysis-Plant, will convert 12 tonnes of waste into bio-fertiliser and energy daily and this will help farmers in the area have access to organic manure for their farms.

The power generated will consist of 200KW from solar, 100KW from biogas and an additional 100KW from the pyrolysis of plastic waste. Upon completion, the project will serve as a training centre for waste management and solar energy sourcing, provide training for 17 master’s degree students and four PhD students at the University of Energy and Natural Resources(UENR), the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the Kumasi Technical University (KsTU), all supporting partners of the project.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said the new plant at Gyankobaa was a manifestation of the government’s efforts to pursue reliable and sustainable alternatives to hydro and thermal energy generation for the country.

The President said the project, the first of its kind in West Africa, would help close the communal carbon cycle by developing the value chain of the process with the production and utilisation of compost.

“The hybrid waste-to-energy project has come at a time when major cities like Accra and Kumasi are facing dire challenges in finding final dump sites. Indeed, the highlight of this project for me is the utilisation of municipal waste for the generation of power which could be the sustainable alternative for curbing the waste management challenges facing metropolises, municipalities and districts (MMDAs) in Ghana,” said the Head of State.