Special Ice Water Company Limited, one of the leading bottling water companies in the Republic of Ghana, has commissioned a 1000-kilowatt (1 Megawatt) rooftop solar power project at its factory at Ayi Mensa based in Accra.
The project is intended to help the company cut down the cost of electricity used in production.
The company is said to consume about 1.3megawatts of electricity supplied from the country’s national grid.
Officials say with the installation of the 1000kw, the company would see its electricity consumption reduced by significant 50 percent.
The project was executed by SunPower Innovations Ghana Ltd., an indigenous company.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Managing Director of Special Ice Natural Mineral Water, Kwodwo Danso-Dodoo explained: “As a matter of strategy, we decided to way the options in terms of having alternatives for electricity; something that was cheaper than electricity, so we decided on solar and searched around and found SunPower Innovations. We asked them to give us a deal for one megawatt energy supply. It was something that we had not seen before and they, themselves, had not seen it before but we encouraged them to do it and here we’re today, commissioning this project.”
He urged the sector Ministry to ensure that the excess power they produce would be metered and credited to them to serve as incentive to other companies.
In a speech delivered by Mr. Wisdom Ahiataku-Togobo, the Director of Renewable and Alternative Energies at the Ministry of Energy, on behalf of the Minister for Energy John-Peter Amewu, the Sector Minister was happy that more entities are realising the strategic role of solar energy as a viable energy solution which is clean, a low carbon-emission option and at the same time relatively cheaper.
He said: “We are even more excited with the productive use to which this solar system has been utilised, that is, the running of a modern water processing facility to provide clean water for citizens.”
Mr Amewu applauded Special Ice Company for the huge investment, as it showed how environmentally responsible it is.
“I must commend Special Ice for their boldness and innovation in implementing this laudable investment. We believe that this investment will impact positively on efficiency in its business operations of the factory and also increase the overall profitability of the business,” he said.
He stated that the initiative by Special Ice Natural Water is a demonstration to the whole business community that, business is not only about profit; it should also be about environmental sustainability.
“The decreasing cost of solar systems is gradually increasing the profitability of businesses and, at the same time, making them environmentally responsible,” he added.
The CEO of Sunpower Innovations, Ernest Amissah, was hopeful that the steps taken by Special Ice Company would encourage others to emulate.
The Inspector in-charge of Renewable Energy at the Energy Commission, Prosper Amuquandoh, who described the project as a laudable one, urged companies that are into rooftop solar installation to endeavour to do quality work.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
