Paper Title
Bridging the Electricity Supply Coverage Gap in Ghana Using Solar Photovoltaic Modules–A Case Study of Oborpah-Djerkiti and Awudze Kope Island
Abstract
Like many other developing nations, Ghana faces the challenge of ensuring reliable and affordable electricity access.
Despite strides to expand the electrical power infrastructure, there are still significant gaps in electricity coverage,
particularly in rural areas and islanded communities. Nonetheless, the advent of solar Photovoltaic (PV) modules presents a
promising solution to bridging Ghana's electricity supply coverage gap by providing sustainable and cost-effective electricity
solutions to remote communities. This study delves into leveraging solar PV modules to bridge Ghana's electricity supply
coverage gap, particularly in rural areas and islanded communities. Central to this investigation is the use of PVsyst software
for the efficient design and deployment of Off-Grid solar PV modules tailored to the unique needs of diverse rural and
islanded communities. Moreover, the research sheds light on the financial implications of choosing a suitable means of
bridging the electricity supply coverage gap by computing and comparing the cost of the solar PV modules and the traditional
grid-based approach to supplying electrical power. The primary objective of this research is to highlight the importance of
prioritising solar PV modules as a means to bridge the electricity access gap and facilitate the achievement of universal
electricity access in Ghana cost-effectively. The results revealed that, in Ghana, the design of solar PV systems needs to align
the azimuths of the solar panels directly towards the South Pole (90 degrees south of the equator) to achieve the desired
maximum output power from the solar panels. Additionally, the results showed that the cheapest means of bridging the
electricity access coverage gap in rural and islanded communities in Ghana is by deploying solar PV modules
Keywords - Solar PV Modules, Electricity Access, Design, PVsyst Software, Cost-effectively