Ghana’s ambition to accelerate its renewable energy adoption received a significant boost with the inauguration of a 16.82-megawatt rooftop photovoltaic solar plant in Tema.
Owned by LMI Holding Company Limited, this is the largest single rooftop solar plant in Africa, constructed at a cost of US$17 million. The solar power generated will be distributed to clients within the Tema Free Zone Enclave (TFZE) industrial zone.
Known as the Mega Warehouse Rooftop Solar PV Project, it is set to become a landmark for sustainable renewable power progress in Ghana. The project covers 95,745 square meters (equivalent to 20 football fields) and is forecasted to generate 24.7 GWh of clean energy annually.
Financed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the project will play a pivotal role in advancing renewable energy within the country’s industrial sector.
During the commissioning of the project, Minister of State for Energy, Herbert Krapah, commended LMI Holding for their achievement and for establishing the plant at the TFZE.
He noted that the project aligns with the government’s energy objectives, aimed at enhancing energy security for industrial clients. Krapah highlighted that the project would provide access to clean, reliable, and cost-efficient solar power.
He also praised the IFC for funding this project and other LMI initiatives, urging the corporation to support other private companies in the solar energy sector. Krapah mentioned that the project would not only create jobs but also empower young people through skills training.
LMI Holdings’ Managing Director, Adiai Opoku-Boamah, emphasized that the workforce for the project comprised entirely Ghanaian engineers and technicians, showcasing local capacity for high-quality work. He stated that businesses within the Free Zones Enclave in Tema would benefit from the power generated, enhancing their green credentials and the competitiveness of their products, especially those exported globally.
Opoku-Boamah remarked that while LMI Holdings is proud of its achievements, this project marks just the beginning of their journey into renewable energy generation. The company aims to generate up to 1000 megawatts of renewable energy by 2030. To achieve this, LMI Holdings has secured a 2,300-acre land bank at Dawa near Ada in the Greater Accra Region to develop into a solar park. Over the next six years, the company plans to invest over USD 1 billion in expanding its renewable energy program.
“I am happy to announce that the IFC approved a USD 110 million facility in December 2023 for LMI Holdings to develop an additional 150 megawatts of solar energy in Dawa. Work has already begun in earnest,” he said.
