MINISTRY TO FORMUALTE SOLAR ENERGY POLICY (BACK PAGE)

The Ministry of Energy is formulating a solar energy policy framework that will shift emphasis from the use of fossil fuel such as kerosene to solar energy as the main source for lighting households in rural areas.
This is because apart from its effects on the environment and the hazard posed by smoke emission, fossil fuel could be depleted while solar energy is sustainable for use especially in this country, where sunlight is in abundance.
The ministry has, therefore, called on reputable companies researching into the use of solar energy to contribute to the drafting of the policy to ensure that solar lighting solutions are affordable and sustainable.
The Deputy Minister for Energy, Dr Kwabena Donkor, announced this when Philips, based in Holland, in collaboration with some representatives from the private sector, presented some of their solar lighting products to the Ministry of Energy for use under a pilot scheme in the Northern and Upper East regions.
The solar lighting systems included Solar Urday lantern, which has the capacity to provide 250 lumens, the equivalent of light provided by 250 candles for 45 hours after it had been charged in a day in the sun, rewinding solar torch and reading light that could be used for other purposes.
The Deputy Minister explained that under the solar energy framework, preference would be given to reputable companies that conduct their research with local institutions so that the products could be serviced by Ghanaians when they break down.
Mr Kees Klein Hesselink, Philips Business Development Manager for Middle East and Africa, said feedback from pilot areas in rural areas had suggested that the addition of a device on solar lighting systems could also be used to recharge mobile phones and these would be incorporated in the next generation solar lantern.
Mrs Harriette Amissah-Arthur, Director of Kumasi Institute of Technology Energy and Environment (KITE), said the overall objective was to contribute to improve living conditions by making solar lighting products and services accessible to people living in areas where there was no electricity.
She said the private sector, especially reputable companies such as Philips, had expressed the willingness, commitment and determination to partner local research institutions to develop and market the solar systems in the most effective and affordable way for the people of Ghana, especially the rural dwellers.
Mr Frank Atta-Owusu, the Project Manager of KITE, said it was cheaper to use the Urday lantern in the household than using kerosene lamps.
He said the Urday lantern was also safe compared to kerosene lantern as there was no risk of fire outbreak and health-damaging smoke involved in its use.