Gov’t plans solar parks to power electric vehicles as energy transition gathers pace
By Eugene Davis
John Abdulai Jinapor, Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition, has disclosed that the government is preparing to establish dedicated solar parks as part of efforts to accelerate the country’s shift toward cleaner energy and support the adoption of electric vehicles.
Speaking in Parliament while responding to questions on developments within the energy sector, Mr Jinapor said the initiative forms part of a broader push by the government to deepen renewable energy deployment and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
“This year we will begin constructing solar parks where electric vehicles can be charged,” he told lawmakers. “We will also introduce a Legislative Instrument to regulate the establishment of charging points for electric vehicles, particularly to encourage the use of solar power in charging infrastructure.”
The minister said the proposed regulation would guide the development of EV charging stations while promoting renewable energy as the primary power source for the emerging sector.
Policy framework for green transition
The solar park initiative sits within a wider policy framework being pursued by the government to transform the country’s energy mix.
Among the key initiatives already launched are the National Energy Transition Framework, a revised Renewable Energy Master Plan and the creation of a Renewable Energy and Green Transition Directorate within the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition (Ghana) to coordinate sector growth.
Officials say the goal is to scale up renewable energy deployment while supporting new technologies that can drive Ghana’s long-term decarbonisation agenda.
Expanding solar capacity
According to the ministry, Ghana added about 80 megawatts of renewable capacity last year, most of it from solar generation, bringing the country’s total installed solar capacity to around 280MW.
Several large-scale solar projects are currently underway or under development, including:
the 200MW Dawa Solar Project
the 100MW Bui Solar Project
the 50MW Sunon Asogli Solar Project
a 30MW floating solar project being developed by the Volta River Authority
Government is also preparing to procure a 200MW solar project paired with a 1,000MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) to help stabilise renewable power supply.
Beyond electricity generation, the ministry said solar solutions are increasingly being deployed in water supply systems and agricultural irrigation to improve energy access in rural areas.
Economic implications
Economists say the expansion of solar infrastructure could have several implications for the Ghanaian economy.
First, greater reliance on renewable energy could help reduce the country’s exposure to volatile fuel prices, which have historically placed pressure on electricity tariffs and public finances.
Second, the development of solar parks and EV charging infrastructure could stimulate investment in emerging sectors such as electric mobility, renewable technology services and battery storage systems.
The transition could also help attract climate financing and green investment into Ghana, particularly as global investors increasingly prioritise low-carbon projects.
However, analysts note that scaling up renewable energy will require sustained capital investment, improved grid infrastructure and supportive regulation to ensure the reliability of supply.
For now, policymakers argue that expanding solar generation and preparing the regulatory environment for electric mobility are critical steps in positioning Ghana’s energy sector for a lower-carbon future while supporting long-term economic resilience.
