Electricity generation in Ghana has historically relied heavily on hydro and thermal sources. Nevertheless, there has been a deliberate shift towards incorporating more renewable energy sources over the past decade, driven by a desire to diversify the energy mix. Hydropower dominated electricity generation in Ghana from 2000 to 2015, with its share ranging between 51% and 92%. Thermal power has, since 2016, dominated electricity generation, reaching its peak at 65% in 2021 and then slightly declining to 62% in 2023.
Electricity Generation Trend
This graph illustrates the electricity generation trend in Ghana from 2010 to 2023. Over this period, Ghana’s electricity generation has shown a consistent upward trajectory, with a notable exception around 2015 when the country faced an energy crisis. Starting at 10,166 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in 2010, the nation’s electricity generation has steadily increased, reaching 24,264 GWh in 2023. This growth reflects ongoing efforts to meet the rising energy demands of Ghana’s growing population and economy.
Grid Electricity Generation by Plant (GWh)
Ghana’s electricity generation mix has increasingly leaned towards thermal power from 2010 to 2023, overtaking hydropower as the primary source from 2016. Hydropower peaked at 8,387 GWh in 2014, dipped in 2015, and gradually rebounded to 9,187 GWh in 2023. Thermal power, however, rose consistently, reaching 14,930 GWh by 2023. Contributions from other renewables, primarily solar and waste, grew modestly but remained minimal, peaking at 162 GWh in 2022 before slightly declining to 148 GWh in 2023. This trend underscores Ghana’s continued reliance on thermal power to meet its growing electricity demand.
Installed Capacity Against Peak Load (MW)
The data shows a steady rise in Ghana’s installed capacity from 2,165 MW in 2010 to 5,639 MW in 2023, consistently staying above peak load, which grew from 1,506 MW to 3,618 MW over the same period. Significant capacity increases occurred around 2015 and between 2017 and 2019, while peak load saw notable rises in 2018-2020 and 2022. Despite an energy crisis in 2015, installed capacity remained higher than peak demand, indicating that Ghana theoretically has sufficient power generation to meet its needs. However, other factors like fuel supply or grid issues may affect actual availability.