Ghana: Africa’s first solar fueled industrial park in the offing

Siemens and WestPark Enterprises have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop an expandable microgrid solution for the fast-growing industrial and business park based in Takoradi, Western Ghana.

The WestPark aims to eliminate many of the challenges faced by companies doing business in Sub-Sahara Africa, such as access to reliable power, water, broadband internet and transport.

The new industrial park is poised to accelerate the transformation of Takoradi – Ghana’s third-largest city. To lay the foundations for reliable, competitive and efficient energy, WestPark has entered into a partnership with Siemens.

The agreement will see Siemens develop a 250kW microgrid that controls the energy generation and throughput for the initial phase of buildings to be constructed at WestPark.

Siemens will design the microgrid so that the first phase of WestPark can be powered entirely by renewable energy and therefore provide a sustainable and cost-effective solution for tenants.

The microgrid will be powered by onsite photovoltaic panels. A back-up battery storage solution will be sourced as well. The grid can be expanded as more buildings are added with the aim to ensure that the park remains powered by renewable energy.

According to Sabine Dall’Omo, CEO of Siemens Southern and Eastern Africa, “This project is perfectly in line with Siemens’ vision for future business in Ghana and other African countries. As a company we are continuously looking for new responsible and efficient energy and infrastructure solutions, and our collabration with WestPark is a good example of how we can support partners with similar goals.”

Siemens is specifically committed to economic growth across Africa, and in doing so in a forward-thinking manner by implementing environmentally sustainable solutions that will help its partners and customers succeed in today’s environmentally-conscious global market.

About WestPark
WestPark is a 405-acre commercial, industrial and residential development, forming part of one of several developments by BlackIvy, an American company building and growing enterprises in East and West Africa. The WestPark offers companies the platform to produce goods and do business more easily with West Africa’s growing markets.  The WestPark offers custom-built warehouses, factories, offices, and retail space alongside business development services to ease the entry into one of the world’s fastest-growing markets.