Business Energy Needs in Ghana by 2020 and the Role of Solar Energy

Abstract

The interest of this research is to explore business energy needs in Ghana by 2020. To readers, energy in this paper is referring to energy in the form of electricity. The main reason behind this study was to look at how businesses in Ghana can explore renewable sources available in meeting their energy needs since the demand for energy in Ghana is more than supply, and businesses have to rely on the use of generator sets as alternative. The scenario model developed by Peter Swartz (1991) was used to build three scenarios for solar. To complement the scenarios questionnaires were distributed to companies and individual consumers for their views on their energy needs. The study adopted the approach of scenario to build three scenarios for solar as the energy source that is sustainable, feasible, and reliable option for business in Ghana by 2020. The study identified solar as sustainable, reliable and feasible option for business in Ghana out of the renewable energy source available. The findings from the study revealed that solar has great potential for businesses and the country at large but little attentions has been given to renewable energy source in Ghana.

Keywords: Business, Solar Energy and Ghana