Waste to Energy: an alternate energy source for Ghana

Abstract: For the past three to four years, Ghana has experienced an energy crisis which has resulted in frequent power outages. Although water levels in the main Akosombo dam has been low, electricity generation from hydro has not declined but steadily increasing pointing to efficiency in generation. However inefficiencies in grid transmission coupled with decline in thermal generation of electricity from natural gas has led to the state the country currently finds itself. An alternative way to solve these problems and introduce the country to a more sustainable renewable energy that is environmentally friendly and encourages decentralized electrification is generating energy from waste. About 8.7 million households in urban areas or 12 million rural households can have their monthly consumption of electricity covered with the use of an estimated 2,975.6 million m3CH4 biogas that can be technically produced from municipal solid and liquid waste, forestry residues, animal manure and crop residues. If the total estimated energy potential is channeled to the industrial sector, it can cover twice their annual electricity consumption. Given the current waste to energy profile, there is the need to put up a framework that will encourage the generation of energy from waste.