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Towards accelerating the deployment of decentralised renewable energy mini-grids in Ghana: Review and analysis of barriers

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  • Bukari, Dramani
  • Kemausuor, Francis
  • Quansah, David A.
  • Adaramola, Muyiwa S.

Abstract

There is growing acceptance that renewable energy mini-grids will play an integral role in the attainment of universal access to electricity as they are now considered to be least cost option for the electrification of locations far from the national grid. Yet, the pace of mini-grids deployment is tapered by multiple obstacles. The paper examined these barriers for Ghana, since a sizable proportion of the population without access to electricity today, will have to be electrified through mini-grids. By coupling literature reviews with field research, twenty-two barriers were identified and validated, dimensioned into political, economic, technical, social and environmental categories, and eventually ranked using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method. The category results ranked political barriers as the most important obstacles (44.3%) and environmental as the least (6.4%). The overall results concentrate the top ten barriers around three main barrier categories; Political (5) Economic (3) and Technical (2), which makes up 70% of the collective barrier weight. Access to finance is accorded the greatest share of importance of 11.7% while limited paying capacity is assigned 3.88%. The paper argues that severe lack of funding, exacerbated by a policy that imposes unbearable subsidies, limits business model innovation, least support productive uses and dispels private capital investment, impedes accelerated deployment of mini-grids for timely universal access to electricity in Ghana. Modifications to the current policy are therefore required.

Suggested Citation

  • Bukari, Dramani & Kemausuor, Francis & Quansah, David A. & Adaramola, Muyiwa S., 2021. "Towards accelerating the deployment of decentralised renewable energy mini-grids in Ghana: Review and analysis of barriers," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:135:y:2021:i:c:s1364032120306961
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2020.110408
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    6. Liu, Yang & Bah, Zainab, 2021. "Enabling development impact of solar mini-grids through the community engagement: Evidence from rural Sierra Leone," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    7. Li Yang & Sumaiya Bashiru Danwana & Issahaku Fadilul-lah Yassaanah, 2021. "An Empirical Study of Renewable Energy Technology Acceptance in Ghana Using an Extended Technology Acceptance Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-19, September.
    8. Sesan, Temilade & Uduka, Unico & Baker, Lucy & Ugwu, Okechukwu & Eleri, Ewah & Bhattacharyya, Subhes, 2024. "Exploring the connections between mini-grid market regulation and energy access expansion: The case of Nigeria," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    9. Fanta Barry & Marie Sawadogo & Maïmouna Bologo (Traoré) & Igor W. K. Ouédraogo & Thomas Dogot, 2021. "Key Barriers to the Adoption of Biomass Gasification in Burkina Faso," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-14, June.
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