THE NATIONAL ROOFTOP SOLAR

PROGRAMME
PRESENTATION @
ANGLOPHONE AFRICAN REGIONAL WORKSHOP
Frederick K. Appiah
Programme Coordinator, NRSP
0208326959; [email protected]

Accra
25 April, 2017
OUTLINE

• Background
• Criteria
• Key Issues for Consideration
• Status
• Challenges
• Funding Support
 BACKGROUND
 Ghana’s electricity supply has faced some challenges as electricity
demand grows; inadequate reserve margin, low water level HP dams,
erratic natural gas supply, unavailability of some of the thermal power
plants.
 Impact on industries, businesses and domestic consumers was high
 One way to demand-supply imbalance is to deploy solar PV systems on
rooftops of homes and commercial buildings to supply power especially
during peak periods.
 However, one key barrier to the uptake of solar PV technology is the
high initial cost.
 The National Rooftop Solar Programme has been initiated to help
address such issue.
THE NATIONAL ROOFTOP SOLAR
PROGRAMME
 The programme is a Capital Subsidy Scheme under which
beneficiaries are given capital subsidy to cover the cost of the solar
panel component of a solar PV system.
 Objective of the programme is to install 200,000 solar PV systems
on rooftops in the country to reduce peak load (lighting load and
critical loads) up to 200MW in the medium term.
 The programme is targeted at residential, public, commercial and
industrial sectors.
 The beneficiaries of the programme will include homes, offices,
hospitality industry, small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
THE NATIONAL ROOFTOP SOLAR
PROGRAMME
 The implementation of the National Rooftop Solar Programme
begun on 8th February, 2016.
 Capital subsidy is in the form of FREE solar PV panels up to a
maximum of 500Wp.
 The 1st phase is targeting 20,000 installations in residential
facilities.
 Only solar vendors/installers, who have been licensed by the Energy
Commission can participate in the programme.
Net Metering
Scheme
CRITERIA FOR PARTICIPATION
The applicant must;
1. change all lamps at his/her facility to LED lamps.
2. purchase the Balance of System (BoS) components such as
inverter, batteries, charge controllers, changeover switch
and wires, etc; and
3. use only solar PV installers licensed by the Energy
Commission for all the installation works.
4. apply by submitting duly filled Application Form.
5. receive approval from EC
KEY ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION
1. Renewable energy policy target of 10% in the energy mix by 2020.
Currently, Renewables currently accounts for only 1% of installed capacity.
2. Policy and regulatory framework established under RE Law (Renewable
Energy Act, 2011 - ACT 832).
3. Policy to move to energy efficiency and conservation.
From Incandescent > Compact Florescent (CFL) > LED lamps.
4. Resource availability.
5. Market barrier issues – High initial cost, lack of information on RETs, etc. and
then create a competitive market.
6. Reduce dependency on the grid. Shave off peak load.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
 The stakeholder meetings were held with;
 Real Estate Developers (Ghana Real Estates Developers Association and State
Housing Company),
 Solar vendors (AGSI, Wilkins, Trade Works, DENG, Energiebau, Solar Light, ABES,
3SIL and others),
 Banks (Ecobank, Royal Bank, HFC Bank, UT Bank, UBA, Stanbic Bank, Zenith Bank,
ARB Apex Bank, Fidelity Bank, Ghana Home Loans, Ghana Leasing, and KfW)
 Tourism Industry (Ghana Tourism Authority, Ghana Tourism Federation, Ghana
Hotels Association, SSNIT and TDC),
 Associations (Civil Service Association, GNAT, NAGRAT, National Board Small Scale
Industries (NBSSI) and Association of Small Scale Industry (ASSI) , and
 Development Partners (UNDP, GEF, DANIDA, AfDB, KfW, GIZ, SECO and EU).
SUSTAINABILITY
High Quality of Solar Products
The licensed Solar Vendor shall
 install ONLY deep cycle batteries meant for solar PV systems.
 ensure that all BoS are tested and certified by the Ghana
Standards Authority (GSA), and meet the minimum Technical
Standards set by GSA.
 ensure that applicants have changed all lamps at their facilities
to LED lamps before the installation of the BoS.
 install either solar panels supplied by the Commission or solar
panels provided by the Vendor, and integrate the panels with
the installed BoS to form a complete solar PV system.
 install only approved capacity of solar panels and up to a
maximum of 500 Watts. Any extra solar panels installed shall be
borne by the applicant.
Sustainable Financing
 Collaboration with the financial institutions
 umb has launched a UMB SOLAR LOAN facility
 afb Financial Services has launched a solar loan facility for consumers.
 uniBank has also launched a U-SOLAR PRODUCT loan facility
 Other banks have certain high purchase credit facilities for solar PV
Human Capacity Development
 Engage accredited educational institutions to administer training for solar
vendors;
 Participation in grid connected solar PV training from accredited institutions
would also be included as part of the criteria to secure solar installer’s license
from the Energy Commission as well as winning government contract; and
 Ensure the integration of the curricula as part of training being provided at
the tertiary level under the engineering discipline.
STATUS
HOW TO APPLY
 The prospective beneficiary must put in an
application. The application form can be:
 picked from EC office and completed, or
 retrieved online (www.energycom.gov.gh or
www.rooftopsolar.energycom.gov.gh) and
completed, or
 completed online and submitted automatically
via ONLINE APPLICATION PORTAL.

*A copy of a valid national ID would be needed.

 INTEREST SHOWN IN THE PROGRAMME
SO FAR (as at March, 2017)
 2,449 Home owners have applied to benefit from programme
 EC has given approval to 1,273 applicants (mostly in Accra) who
do not have BoS to purchase and install the requisite BoS.
 727 applicants have been given the max. 500Wp solar panels.
 The banks have expressed the interest to grant loan for applicants
who meet their requirements (eg. umb, uniBank, afb, etc.)
 105 Licensed solar vendors have signed agreements with the EC
to supply and install systems
 EC has given permission to the banks and solar vendors to use
EC’s logo to advertise their products under the programme
Status
COST OF 500Wp
Example:
 A 500Wp solar PV system cost between GHC5,000 and 7,000.
 Subsidy is about GHC 1,900. Others; 1.000 ;
15% Solar Panels
(500Wp);
1.900 ; 29%

Battery
(200Ah); 1.800
; 27%

Charge Inverter
Controller; 450 (1,000W);
; 7% 1.500 ; 22%
Appiah, F. K. (2016)
 Beneficiaries have to pay about 60-70% of total cost.
 Commercial Banks have created special facilities to help fund the BoS.
Strategy for Low Income Group
 Redesign the Programme to also benefit the low income class.
 The Subsidy for the Programme is up GHC 1,900.00 per beneficiary.
 Use of low capacity or plug-and-play solar system for the low income
class to also benefit from this Subsidy.
 Currently, being piloted in 200 households in the Kwahu East District.
 Nationwide implementation to begin in June 2017.
CHALLENGES
 Logistical challenges for approval inspection resulting in low number of
inspections per day.
 Financial constraint on the part of some of the beneficiaries – “expensive
BOS”
 Competing needs/use of the Energy Fund
 Remoteness of the location of some of the residential facilities.
 Incomplete application forms & wrong and information provided by
Applicants (eg. wrong contact numbers, etc.)
 Changing of choice of solar vendors where applicant, hence delays in the
approval process.
 Failure on the parts of some installers to understand the terms and
conditions stipulated under the contract agreement.
FUNDING SUPPORT
SUPPORT
 Funding has been primarily Government funding through the
Energy Fund
 Annual Work Programme is prepared and submitted to Ministry of
Energy for approval.
 A request to financially support the Programme was made to ALL
16 Development Partners in Ghana. No +ve feedback yet.
 Currently, going through the process to apply to the Green
Climate Fund.
 We are about securing funding for the training of solar PV
installers and upgrade of knowledge.
Update on GCF Application
 Under the UNEP/UNDP/WRI GCF Readiness Programme in Ghana is
providing financial and technical support to the Energy Commission to
develop project proposal to secure funding from the Green Climate Fund
(GCF).
 As part of the process, an Independent Consultant from Climate and
Development Solutions was engaged to assist the Energy Commission (EC)
develop the proposal to meet the GCF requirement.
 stakeholders consultation to solicit inputs into the development of identified
renewable energy projects.
 Field visit were also undertaken to ascertain some of the issues flagged in the initial
concept notes submitted to the National Designated Authority (NDA).
 2nd Mission was done in March, 2017
Thank You for Your Attention

Contact:
Programme Director
0202205563; [email protected]