Ghana’s electricity demand reached an all-time high in 2024, with a system peak load of 3,952 megawatts (MW) recorded on December 29, a report by the Energy Commission has revealed.
This represented a significant 9.2% increase in electricity demand from the 2023 peak demand of 3,618 MW.
The surge in demand was driven by the country’s growing economy and increasing loads across the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) distribution zones.
As the country looks ahead to 2025, electricity planners have projected that the system peak load will continue to rise, reaching 4,125 MW.
This will represent a further 4.4% increase from the 2024 figure.
Ghana’s installed electricity generation capacity stood at 5,260 MW as of November 2024, with a total dependable capacity of 4,856 MW.
In 2025, the available capacity is expected to be 5,260 MW, with a dependable capacity of 4,855 MW.
This will provide a reserve margin of 18% to meet the projected peak demand.
However, the availability of fuel supply and scheduled maintenance for generation units could impact the actual available capacity.
Ghana’s electricity generation mix is a combination of hydro, thermal, and renewable energy sources.
With the exception of the hydropower plants, most of the thermal power plants rely on natural gas, with an estimated 151.4 trillion British thermal units (TBtu) required for electricity generation in 2025.
The report also estimates that 344,387 barrels of Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) will be required by the AKSA to fuel some of its units.
The total fuel expenditure for the year, according to the report, is estimated at US$1,248.23 million.
As Ghana continues to grow and develop, its electricity sector would play a critical role in supporting economic expansion and improving the quality of life of its citizens.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
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