Ghana: ACI aims to lower industrial energy costs

The Association of Ghana Industries-Energy Service Centre (AGI-ESC) has introduced a network aimed at encouraging the adoption of renewable energy within Ghana’s industrial sector. This initiative is driven by the goal of mitigating increasing energy expenses for industries and promoting cost-effective energy usage.

Named the “Energy Efficiency Network (EEN),” this initiative will serve as a platform for Ghanaian industries to enhance their energy efficiency. By doing so, they can lower their energy expenses, reduce carbon emissions, and bolster their competitiveness within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Every participating company will receive comprehensive technical support, which includes a compliant energy audit. This audit will empower companies to evaluate their potential energy and CO2 savings, estimate the necessary investments, analyze the economic advantages of these measures, establish individual energy savings objectives, and assess the return on investment for each measure.

The Energy Efficiency Network (ENN) will bring about several benefits for industries, including decreased operational costs, enhanced energy security, and a smaller carbon footprint. These positive outcomes align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Goal 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy, Goal 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, and Goal 13 – Climate Action.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Seth Twum Akwaboah, said the increase in electricity tariff calls for other affordable and more sustainable alternatives for businesses to keep running.

He stated that the network would contribute significantly to accomplishing that goal.

“The establishment of the AGI energy service centre was to promote the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency among companies.

More efficiency in the usage of energy helps to reduce energy costs and cost of production, which helps businesses to become more competitive to capture a good share of both local and international market,” he said.

“This network has been formed so that companies that want to go solar or companies that want to go renewable will be able to work together to be able to share information and resources, and also harness opportunities in the system and facilitate the access to solar energy,” he added.