Application and constraints of Photovoltaic technology in Ghana

This paper discusses the application and the constraints of Photovoltaic (PV) technology in Ghana. Solar photovoltaic is a viable alternative energy for power generation in Ghana. However, the use has been limited to only household applications. Applications that are comparatively not capital intensive to large power generation systems such as remote site electrification, communications, remote monitoring, charging vehicle batteries, and water pumping are discussed here. The constraints such as institutional setup, unregulated market for PV components, high investment costs, and low growth of solar PV technology have been discussed with some solutions and recommendations have also been put forward. The Government should create an enabling environment to encourage private individuals to invest in the solar PV power system. This would help to increase the rate of access to electricity because grid-electricity which is most preferred option cannot be possible in all non-electrified areas now due to economic and physical accessibility constraints.