Ghana cannot do away with thermal power - VRA

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• Kwaku 11 years ago

  So tell NPP to shut up and face realities in the water and energy sectors in Ghana.

  So tell NPP to shut up and face realities in the water and energy sectors in Ghana.

  reply
• Conventional Youth. 11 years ago

  GHANA’S ENERGY CRISIS – THE CPP’S BLUEPRINT
  Energy is one of the parameters in the value addition chain. The rest being TIME, TOOL, MATERIAL, MONEY, MAN POWER (HUMAN RESOURCE), INFORMATION; without energy there can be ...
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  GHANA’S ENERGY CRISIS – THE CPP’S BLUEPRINT
  Energy is one of the parameters in the value addition chain. The rest being TIME, TOOL, MATERIAL, MONEY, MAN POWER (HUMAN RESOURCE), INFORMATION; without energy there can be no production of any sort.
  The present Energy crises are hitting hard on industry. Some foreign companies are already relocating outside Ghana. Ghanaian industrialists are losing out because of higher production cost as a result of the situation.
  
  EXAMPLES OF EFFECT ON INDUSTRY :
  1. In a normal biscuit factory continuous ovens are used for the production of biscuits. When power outage occurs the conveyer in the oven stops and it result in the damage of biscuits.
  2. Industries using steam boilers are compelled to restart the boilers after the power has been re stalled. In other words, all the energy used in previously starting the boiler goes waste. Factories using extruders have special problems in that the extruder locks up during power outage because the operator could not clean the extruder before the power outage.
  3. In a vegetable oil refinery vacuum pumps are used to stabilize the relation between temperature and pressure. If power goes off and the vacuum pump stops, the oil temperature rises uncontrollably completely destroying the oil.
  4. Poultry farmers using incubators always lose out during power outages. These are some of the serious problems manufactures are experiencing as a result of the present power outage situation.
  5. When you are in a steel mill, power outages can be catastrophic.
  6. Finally, manufactures have to pay workers whether there is power or no power and this has resulted in a loss of revenue and increased wage bills.
  
  MAIN OBJECTIVES OF ENERGY POLICY
  CPP Policy would be aimed at providing uninterrupted and reliable but quality energy at a reasonably low cost to meet the domestic needs of the population and also the needs of industry, The policy will also meet the Transportation requirements, (Air, Water and Land Transportation).
  The policy would also discriminate the use of energy for irrigation as against any other application .The policy will also look at conservation of energy to save cost. In this regard , attention would be paid to the use of energy saving bulb including LED.(light emission diodes), introduction of wind towers as is common practice in Australia and middle east, to suck out heat from buildings, the use of insulated materials in the walls of buildings as it is common in Denmark, to reduce heat transfer into the building, the use of solar water heaters to reduce energy demand for heating water for domestic applications i.e., cooking food, washing, bathing, etc.
  Estate developers would be encouraged to set up waste disposal systems capable of generating biogas for use as well as installation of wind turbines for localized generation of power.
  
  TRANSPORTATION
  It is common knowledge that transport consume a lot of energy, in this regard, mass transport –buses, trains, promotion of water transport would be encouraged, special efforts would be made to improve transportation on the Volta lake and other rivers such as the Pra and other perennial rivers. The use of Gas and biodiesel would be strongly promoted as main fuel for transport vehicles.
  
  SOURCES OF ENERGY:
  Since solar is the main source of energy for the earth, priority would be given to Solar. The next energy sources would be wind, hydropower, biomass, vegetable oil, biogas, natural gas, crude oil. There would only be limited use of crude oil.
  Ethanol: The main emphasis would be on renewable fuels. Non- renewable fuels would be reserved for processing into various materials.
  
  ENERGY HARDWARE:
  A major policy of the CPP is to create capacity to build hydro power plants, wind turbines, gasification plants to convert biomass into gas, biodiesel plants and then biogas plants. We think it is unacceptable, that after fifty-six years, Ghana is compelled to import this kind of hardware without any kind of programme to build them. We have no reason to import transformers, insulators, hangers, switch gear, electric motors, and generators indefinitely into this country. This would be part of long-term programme with a timeline.
  
  SOLAR:
  The sun can be described as the principal source of energy for the universe. It is estimated than 5.7 hours of sunlight is enough to meet a year’s energy needs of the world. It is further estimated that solar energy dissipated on 1sq Km of the Sahara Desert is equivalent to 1.5 million barrels of crude oil.
  Ghana’s unique position on the globe only 4 degrees above the Equator and the meridian passing through Tema gives us exceptional advantage to tap energy from the sun.
  We can harness the sun’s energy in three direct ways:
  1. Water heating through coils over black metal sheet utilizing two tanks
  a) A supply tank
  b) Insulated reservoir tank. Temperatures up to 70 degree C can be achieved if the design is right. Hot water in this form can be used for miscellaneous application.
  2. Use of photo voltaic (PV) appliances for generation of electricity for various applications.
  3. Enhancing the sun’s energy through the use of mirrors for heating water, generating steam and producing power from steam turbines.
  
  WIND POWER:
  The CPP believes that Ghana needs to adopt the comprehensive approach to solving the energy problem. Contrary to general perception that Ghana has no wind potential, it is realized that only Ghana and Senegal on the West Coast have good capacity to produce salt. This is because both countries have a relatively higher wind speed that facilitates evaporation of sea water for salt production.
  Findings from the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory N.R.E.L, indicate that even at the height of 12 meters, wind speeds reach between 4m/s (meters per second) and 6m/s at Aploku and Mankoadze. Aploku is not far from Pambros Salt Ponds (Menskurom).
  The 12m by 18 blades with 5m diameter windmills being manufactured by the Agricultural Engineering Services of the Ministry of Agriculture and FATECO LTD., producing torque at 1.8m/s wind speed means that such machines can be deployed nationwide for irrigation to reduce energy requirement.
  Wind turbines if appropriately deployed in already available wind corridors enhanced under our tree planting programmes can be used to enhance our power needs.
  We believe in the deliberate creation of wind corridors for power generation. Anybody can test widespread availability of wind by holding a large cardboard in an open field. With the aid of GPS and the wind map, potential wind corridors can be identified and harnessed for power generation. Wind speed tests conducted at Papaye Fast Food on the Spintex Road gave wind speeds between 7-9 meters per second. At Kawokudi Junction and Mamprobi Beach all in Accra, wind speeds of over 7 meters per second were very consistent. It is now known that wind power is viable whenever oil prices exceed $60.00 per barrel. With the oil price now over $100/barrel, there is no doubt that Ghana should closely pay attention to the potential of wind power.
  Our investigations indicate that we can generate 10,000 megawatts of power from the Volta basin. The Volta River stretches over 1,000 kms; installing 3megawatts wind turbines (height 120 meters, blade diameter 85 meters) over this stretch can produce this power. Because the Volta basin is a wind corridor, there is no time that there can be no wind along this long stretch. If the wind turbines are installed triangular at the distance of 300 meters, it should be possible to generate 27,000 megawatts from these towers. At 33% efficiency, 9,000 megawatts can be guaranteed.
  BIOFUELS:
  We refer to any energy source that emanates from biological resource, i.e. plants and animals as biofuel. Since man has capacity to regenerate plants and multiply animals, these energy sources can be described as renewable. We must however understand that the sun is the original supplier of this energy. Plants and animals are energy convertors and suppliers of energy.
  As a tropical country, Ghana has immense potential and overwhelming advantage to harness biofuels for energy and power generation. Vegetable Oil, ethanol, biomass and biogas belong to the biofuel group.
  Vegetable oil is described as liquid solar energy. It is a hydrocarbon with very similar characteristics as crude oil.
  After studying the Palm Oil Industry, the Germans concluded that actual production costs for Palm Oil are in the 150 to 250 Euro/ton range.
  It is further realized that West African extraction rates and yields are very low. At the same time production is done without fertilizers and pesticides, so that the palm oil is not grown sustainably!
  The CPP asserts that no oil bearing seed in the temperate climate has more than 1000kg of oil per hectare. Yet in the tropics such as ours, we have oil bearing trees yielding over 3000kg of oil per hectare.
  It is clear that the use of vegetable oil for power production is sustainable in Ghana if we use good methods.
  In fact, our calculations indicate that if we can mobilize our people to plant about 7 million hectares of Almond trees – an oil bearing plant, Ghana can produce 20 million tons of vegetable within 6years. On the basis of German experience 12 million tons should produce 8000 mw of power; 90 million kw/hrs from the biomass through a gasification process.
  Such a programme will create jobs for at least 14 million young people i.e. 2 persons per hector and thousands of others in the value addition i.e. high protein cake, edible plastics etc. 7 million hectors of forest in the Volta Basin would enhance rainfall, rejuvenate the Volta River to restore its potential to produce 4,300 mw of power. The country will also benefit from carbon trading.
  Carbon dioxide absorption is estimated at about 100 tons/ha.
  
  Ghana has untapped resources in vegetable oil. Presently we have about 30,000 acres of Para Rubber Plantation yielding about 30,000 tons of Para Rubber Seed with 42% oil giving us about 12,000 tons of vegetable oil. The Aboso Glass Factory was grounded due to inadequate power. The total demand there does not exceed 1 mw.
  From extrapolations above 12,000 tons of Para Rubber Oil should give us about 8 mw. In fact, under President Nkrumah’s programme, the target was 75000 acres of plantation within 15 years i.e. ending before 1980 which would have given us 20 mw of electric power.
  
  BIODIESEL PRODUCTION:
  For the production of biodiesel for general transportation needs, we only require caustic soda, or potash, and ethanol or methanol.
  The process for converting vegetable oil to Biodiesel is quite simple. In other words with 20 million tons of oil and our diesel requirement not exceeding one million tons, we can have a sustainable programme to use vegetable oil to meet our transportation needs. Jatropha is the best feed stock.
  For power generation we need not convert the vegetable oil into biodiesel. In any case, we can easily produce methanol from the natural gas coming as by-product from the crude oil presently discovered.
  
  
  ETHANOL:
  Ghana has enormous resources for the production of Ethanol. All what we need to do is to create conditions for harvesting the raw material – cocoa sweating during the drying fermentation process.
  With cocoa production hitting one million tons of dry beans, equivalent by-product from the sweating should be very high. Cocoa Marketing Board should assist the Cocoa Research Institute to design drying platforms that allow harvesting of this commodity. Research Institution including the KNUST (KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCEINCE AND TECHNOLOGY) should determine the percentage of ethanol from a ton of dry beans. Institute of Industrial Research should link up to this programme by providing table top distillation plants and training programs for its successful implementation. The programme should be extended to link up with Distillery COMPANIES like formerly GHANA INDUSTRIAL HOLDING CO(GIHOC) to buy the alcohol from farmers or intermediate distillers for the production of Ethanol. The Bodwoase Starch Plant can surely become more viable if it went into a value addition chain including ethanol production.
  Roots and Tubers of the Ministry of Agriculture should be linked to this programme and support cassava farmers with small scale portable starch plants which can be made here for ethanol production.
  Sweet Sorghum as a feed stock for ethanol should be encouraged since the stem of the Sorghum is a feed stock, this material does not threaten the food industry, so is the cocoa industry with respect to ethanol.
  Ethanol has been used as automobile fuel for many years in various Regions of the world. Brazil is probably the leading user nation. In the 1990s about 5 million vehicles operated on fuels i.e. 93% ethanol. Presently new engines are available that run on flexible fuels, i.e. any mixture of ethanol and petrol.
  The country has a lot of miscellaneous plants with both biodiesel and ethanol potential. A value addition chain for our Agricultural raw material base should allow us to identify them.
  
  ENERGY FROM OTHER WASTES:
  Biogas can be produced from biodegradable landfills. For economic production of gas from landfills, a minimum of one million tons of land fill must be buried 40 feet deep. This information must guide us in designing our landfills to make sure that we have the possibility of extracting gas from all our landfills nationwide. Landfills designed as a hill can also be used for power generation if we mount a wind turbine on top of this artificial hill.
  Biomass with densities above 200kg/cubic meter can be gasified for energy. This includes wood chippings, high density fibre (Almond), sawdust, etc.
  Palm Kernel Shells have very high energy content. In fact, two tons of Palm Kernel Shell is equivalent to 1 ton of diesel in energy contents.
  Animal waste including poultry droppings, fish oil, etc. can all be used for power production. The latest technology for extracting oils from oil bearing seeds and animals is termed supercritical. It is very efficient and operates at about 70 atmospheres at 300?C.
  For the production of one pound turkey meat 1½pounds of waste, 12000 tons of pig slurry plus 30,000 tons of food waste produces biogas for 800 homes in Europe.
  In Minnesota, 55 megawatts of power are produced from poultry liter.
  NUCLEAR AND ATOMIC ERNERGY :
  We have complete faith in atomic energy, we believe it is the safest and cheapest among all sources of energy but the initial cost of establishment is high and thus we will exhaust the potentials all the energy sources above before atomic or nuclear energy usage. The option must however be explored for the longer term. At this point, we refer to Dr. Nkrumah’s speech when inaugurating the Atomic Energy Project. At the ceremony marking the laying of foundation stone for the Atomic Complex on 25th November, 1964, Dr. Nkrumah said:
  “Our sole motive in reaching the decision to build the Centre which you now see rising before you, is to enable Ghana to take advantage of the decisive methods of research and development which mark our modern world. It is essential to do this if we are to impart to our development that acceleration which is required to break even with more advanced economies. We have therefore been compelled to enter the field of atomic energy, because this already promises to yield the greatest economic source of power since the beginning of man.”
  CRUDE OIL:
  The U.S. is the biggest consumer of crude oil at 24 barrels per capita, followed by Europe at 12 barrels per capita. China presently consumes 2 barrels per capita followed by India with 1 barrel per capita. The Chinese in effect want to live like the U.S. This will naturally result in higher consumption of energy. Presently the Chinese are abandoning the use of bicycles. In 2007 VW alone sold 1 million cars in China. If the Chinese increase their crude oil consumption to 4 barrels, the country will need 5.6 billion barrels, i.e. 1.4 billion x 4. The world had 800 million cars in 2007 and car population is increasing worldwide. It is obvious from above that the price of crude oil is not likely to come down drastically.
  Ghana should therefore take maximum advantage of the newly discovered oil reserves to ensure that the product benefits the entire population; downstream value addition should be our first option. This will avoid the so called curse of crude oil. Many products can be derived from crude oil. The lists below are some of the major derivatives:
  1. Rubber tires, Inks and Paints
  2. Varnish and painters chemicals
  3. Turpentine
  4. Lubricating oil
  5. Soaps
  6. Gasoline
  7. Diesel Fuels
  8. Insecticides and Sprays
  9. Cutting Paper, Leather and Textiles Oils
  10. Rubber Compounds
  11. Solvent Creams and Ointments and Petroleum Jelly
  12. Anti Rust
  13. Fuel and Metallurgical Coke
  14. Fertilizers
  The accompanying natural gas has 4 components:
  ? Methane
  ? Ethane
  ? Propane
  ? Butane
  All these have various uses. It is important to note that matters relating to crude oil cannot be resolved in isolation, i.e. outside National Development Agenda. For instance without the presence of an advanced Machine Tools Centre, giving capacity for machine building in Ghana, most of the ancillary services will have to be taken outside and Ghana would lose a lot of money.
  HYDROPOWER GENERATION:
  The CPP was aware even in the sixties that Energy was a major prerequisite in a value addition chain. We therefore took steps to enhance our energy supply base by embarking on the construction of the Bui Dam, to follow Akosombo
  At the time of the 1966 Coup all the design drawings for the Bui Dam had been completed and large quantities of constructional equipment and building materials including steel beams, angles, plates, large pumps, diesel electric generators and miscellaneous tubing were all at site. All these materials gradually disappeared from the site without anybody accounting for them.
  Dr. S.B. Arthur, a Soviet trained Ghanaian Hydropower engineer, had surveyed the hydropower potential of 10,001 rivers in the country and had quantified their energy potential. He estimated that the Volta Basin had potential to produce 4300 megawatts from 7 possible sites using the cascade method.
  Unfortunately it is not possible now to achieve this because we failed to protect the Basin. As a result of massive deforestation, the land can no longer retain its top soil which is continuously being washed into the river and thus causing siltation resulting in the spread of the lake and consequent higher evaporation.
  As at 2010, Accra alone was receiving 60 truckloads of charcoal equivalent to at least 240 truckloads of fire wood every 24 hrs. The main source is in the North and Afram plains – the catchment rain source of the Volta River. Our estimate is based on 25% extraction rate. We can say without fear of contradiction that because of the inefficient method of charcoal production, there are cases where the extraction rate is only about 15%. The question that troubles us is that we had the Akosombo Hydropower which is four times bigger in capacity than the 400 megawatts Bui plant.
  Furthermore, the Bui Lake is much smaller. The Akosombo Hydropower was built nearly 50years earlier (two generations). Why is it that we as Ghanaians are compelled to bring in a third party to build the Bui Dam? We asked if the Indians or the Koreans had been in this position would they have called on a third party to do this? Our KNUST was in existence over 50 yrs ago (2011). The South Koreans had the equivalent of our Engineering Universities i.e. KIST – “The Korean Institute of Science and Technology,” 15 yrs after the establishment of KNUST. The Koreans do not invite third parties to build their hydropower plants, so why? Why? We don’t believe that if Kwame Nkrumah had lived till now, this situation could have happened.
  Yes our political leaders must be compelled to explain this.
  
  ACTION REQUIRED:
  Our political leaders must not allow this situation to repeat. We need to take steps to empower our people now to have full capacity to build Hydropower Plants. We must have a programme with quantifiable targets to achieve this. Whatever needs to be done must be done now for we still have a number of small rivers and stream with hydropower potential. The Pra River has potential to produce 120 megawatts of power.
  6yearrs ago (2005), Ghana received two 30 kw hydropower plants from UNIDO for study and replication. The Prof. Damodaran who happened to be the deputy head of small and mini hydro plant – a UNIDO project in China. the plants are still in boxes at V.R.A. depot in Tema. Would this have happened the CPP was in power? Certainly not!
  It is important to explain that only a comprehensive approach to solving Ghana’s problems will be viable. For instance, Tree Planting which is a forestation activity is the responsibility of the Forestry Department and theoretically has nothing to do with energy. Yet we realize that only this department can arrest the deforestation presently going on.
  We have struck oil, yes, but the only way to prevent an oil curse is to go for the value addition chain in order to spread the wealth base.
  We must use the biofuel for power and energy and multiply our revenue through a value addition chain of crude oil.
  We must go in for meticulous planning with quantifiable targets, ingenuity, and endeavor, backed by uncompromising determination. FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION!
  
  
  
  Robert Woode - Crusading Engineer
  CPP Spokesperson on Energy

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• Alex 11 years ago

  With only 1200 dollars you solve your power problems for 20 years.
  You get 500 watts of power supply, That can give light, tv,radio and charge your mobile phone.
  contact me kwame_1963@msn.com or 008613580830847.

  With only 1200 dollars you solve your power problems for 20 years.
  You get 500 watts of power supply, That can give light, tv,radio and charge your mobile phone.
  contact me kwame_1963@msn.com or 008613580830847.

  reply
• OSEI LOND 11 years ago

  Ghana canot do away with thermal power mr akwasi fletcher cant you see that the time has come ghana dont need akosombo for anything we need wind mill solra get new life old fools

  Ghana canot do away with thermal power mr akwasi fletcher cant you see that the time has come ghana dont need akosombo for anything we need wind mill solra get new life old fools

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• Hohn Peters 11 years ago

  Ghanains should blame the PURC for failing to increase energy tariffs to enable VRA to provide the investment they needed.We cant eat our cake and still have it.

  Ghanains should blame the PURC for failing to increase energy tariffs to enable VRA to provide the investment they needed.We cant eat our cake and still have it.

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• ekow sego 11 years ago

  It is better to pay a little bit more for power than high cost using generator for a day.PURC please if vra collaspse like Tor then you are to blame.

  It is better to pay a little bit more for power than high cost using generator for a day.PURC please if vra collaspse like Tor then you are to blame.

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• BRO DAN -TRC 11 years ago

  GOD FEARING ONES OF THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD, DIGNIFIED PEOPLE OF AFRICA, INNOCENT PEOPLE OF GHANA, GLOBAL MAN-MADE "JACOB'S TROUBLE"? -"THE SCRIPTURES CANNOT BE BROKEN". SELAH. FOR IN THE BIGINNING -"MAN" WAS TOLD, "PREPARE ...
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  GOD FEARING ONES OF THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD, DIGNIFIED PEOPLE OF AFRICA, INNOCENT PEOPLE OF GHANA, GLOBAL MAN-MADE "JACOB'S TROUBLE"? -"THE SCRIPTURES CANNOT BE BROKEN". SELAH. FOR IN THE BIGINNING -"MAN" WAS TOLD, "PREPARE IT AND KEEP IT" BUT, PULSE. NOW, 'LET MY PEOPLE THINK'. GHANA, "WHAT DO YOU HAVE..?". WHY? "PREPARE IT AND KEEP IT". ALL GOD FEARING NATIONS AND PEOPLE, THIS COMES TO ALL. "IT IS FINISH" THEREFORE "OCCUPY TILL I COME". SELAH. YEA, -'LET MY PEOPLE THINK'.
  TOGETHER WE CAN! WITH GOD WE CAN! GOD BLESS AFRICA. GOD BLESS YOUR NATION AND THE PRECIOUS PEOPLE. GOD BLESS ALL WHO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THAT, -FOREVER, THE WORD OF THE LORD IS SETTLED IN HEAVEN. YEA, GOD BLESS OUR HOMELAND GHANA.

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• Fiifi Sam, New Jersey 11 years ago

  Enough with these meetings and commissions that bring no result. Here's the problem. Ghanaians have been blinded with politics so much. that the politicians are taking advantage This is not NPP vrs. NDC blame game. At the end ...
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  Enough with these meetings and commissions that bring no result. Here's the problem. Ghanaians have been blinded with politics so much. that the politicians are taking advantage This is not NPP vrs. NDC blame game. At the end of the day, the citizens are left to sleep in the dark. It shouldn't matter who is in power. Ghanaians deserve better but our politicians are busy doing nothing. How is it possible that a small country like Ghana can not keep its lights on 56 years post independence? The citizens are arguing amongst themselves while the politicians sit back in their generator assisted homes and offices completely oblivious of your plights. If these politicians deliver on 50% of their promises, Ghana will be in a much better place.

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• Adongo som 11 years ago

  Its no politics matter.this is no magic.look VRA produces power at a cost .then sell it below the operation cost make 100% loss,Gov does'nt pay what they use ,the rest of us pay low tariff but turn round to blame VRA.crude oi ...
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  Its no politics matter.this is no magic.look VRA produces power at a cost .then sell it below the operation cost make 100% loss,Gov does'nt pay what they use ,the rest of us pay low tariff but turn round to blame VRA.crude oil is not water .I dont blame party A or B.it is PURC.Give vra realistic tariffs and stop beating abt the bush.

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• Mahama Ayaripa 11 years ago

  it is politics. there is interference from politicians. Politicians have not paid VRA.

  it is politics. there is interference from politicians. Politicians have not paid VRA.

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• no nonsense 11 years ago

  People have little knowledge of the subject area but turn to be insultive.wait do you no the cost per unit of power associate with solar.solar is the most expensive power option.it is 5times costly than even crude generation ...
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  People have little knowledge of the subject area but turn to be insultive.wait do you no the cost per unit of power associate with solar.solar is the most expensive power option.it is 5times costly than even crude generation.even you can pay for crude generation who should venture into solar, sorry.

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• NANA KWEKU AWULAE BRUKUSU 11 years ago

  Nonsense! Everything under the sun is affected by the decisions of politicians. Why does load shedding have nothing to do with politics? Nana, you're ignorant!

  Nonsense! Everything under the sun is affected by the decisions of politicians. Why does load shedding have nothing to do with politics? Nana, you're ignorant!

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• Nonsense 11 years ago

  Due to water shortages, hydropower production has also fallen with water levels. Now countries around the world are looking at Solar and Wind power generation.But Nonsense country like Ghana is Still building Dams. Backward p ...
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  Due to water shortages, hydropower production has also fallen with water levels. Now countries around the world are looking at Solar and Wind power generation.But Nonsense country like Ghana is Still building Dams. Backward people.

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• no nonsense 11 years ago

  People have little knowledge of the subject area but turn to be insultive.wait do you no the cost per unit of power associate with solar.solar is the most expensive power option.it is 5times costly than even crude generation. ...
  read full comment

  People have little knowledge of the subject area but turn to be insultive.wait do you no the cost per unit of power associate with solar.solar is the most expensive power option.it is 5times costly than even crude generation.even you can pay for crude generation who should venture into solar, sorry.

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• Cheaptalk 11 years ago

  how is solar more expensive than crude when generating?You can talk of installing the panels ,but there is not cost in solar energy production!!!

  how is solar more expensive than crude when generating?You can talk of installing the panels ,but there is not cost in solar energy production!!!

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• Nonsense 11 years ago

  Crude is dirty and expensive. Solar in the southern hemisphere is the cheapest energy for mankind.

  Crude is dirty and expensive. Solar in the southern hemisphere is the cheapest energy for mankind.

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• Nonsense 11 years ago

  Solar energy cost betwen $0.28 and $0.36 per kWh. Yes, solar used to be very expensive but not anymore. Crude oil is very dirty and mind you it is not sustainable in a long term. If countries like Algeria, Morocco can invest ...
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  Solar energy cost betwen $0.28 and $0.36 per kWh. Yes, solar used to be very expensive but not anymore. Crude oil is very dirty and mind you it is not sustainable in a long term. If countries like Algeria, Morocco can invest in concentrating solar power (CSP) and to increase the share of their solar energy to a total of 7200 MW CSP every two years, why can't Ghana do the same?

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• no nonsense 11 years ago

  Yes you are correct of the per/unit cost.The issue is who should generate it at $0.36 and sell it $0.16per kwh.Does it make economic sense.Dont decieve yourself,if you want to enjoy constant power you got to pay.we are gettin ...
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  Yes you are correct of the per/unit cost.The issue is who should generate it at $0.36 and sell it $0.16per kwh.Does it make economic sense.Dont decieve yourself,if you want to enjoy constant power you got to pay.we are getting what we pay period.

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• James USA 11 years ago

  The decisions to build the CSP in Algeria and Morocco were made by their government. Ghanaians are ready to pay for a constant electricity supply. Solar is the only sustainable.

  The decisions to build the CSP in Algeria and Morocco were made by their government. Ghanaians are ready to pay for a constant electricity supply. Solar is the only sustainable.

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• ABALO 11 years ago

  Thanks for this . There is too much mis-information about Solar power. It is not a viable solution to our current problems. Apart from being expensive it is not available in the nignt when it is most needed. Also solar is DC ...
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  Thanks for this . There is too much mis-information about Solar power. It is not a viable solution to our current problems. Apart from being expensive it is not available in the nignt when it is most needed. Also solar is DC and needs elaborate converters to change it to AC for some applications. The proponents of solar should find out what %age of installed capacity is solar in the developed countries. I will propose Solar anytime for remote localities where grid extension cannot be justified.

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• Cheaptalk 11 years ago

  With all the mountainous regions in Ghana am shocked there is not even one wind mill producing electricity in those areas, some parts on the north should have large solar panels to provide electricity , a true diversification ...
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  With all the mountainous regions in Ghana am shocked there is not even one wind mill producing electricity in those areas, some parts on the north should have large solar panels to provide electricity , a true diversification of our energy grid is needed!

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• DAN 11 years ago

  or the days with no rain behind dam need natural gas to fire the generators

  or the days with no rain behind dam need natural gas to fire the generators

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• Sankofa 11 years ago

  The alternative forms of power generation are investment opportunities.
  
  Let us in the diaspora look to contribute to the development of our country by investing in power generation.
  
  That would be much better than castin ...
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  The alternative forms of power generation are investment opportunities.
  
  Let us in the diaspora look to contribute to the development of our country by investing in power generation.
  
  That would be much better than casting aspersions at government.

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• kingsford 11 years ago

  IS THERE ANY ELETRICITY IN GHANA;I WOULDN;T MIND PAYING MUCH SO LONG IM GETTING NONSTOP POWER SUPPLY BUT AS FAR AS IM CONCERN POWER U MAY NOT GET BUT ALWAYS CHARGING GAGANTUA PRICES:SAD

  IS THERE ANY ELETRICITY IN GHANA;I WOULDN;T MIND PAYING MUCH SO LONG IM GETTING NONSTOP POWER SUPPLY BUT AS FAR AS IM CONCERN POWER U MAY NOT GET BUT ALWAYS CHARGING GAGANTUA PRICES:SAD

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• Emmanuel Quaye, Slough 11 years ago

  Solar is the cheapest and a sustainable energy source. It looks as if our leaders are ANTI – technology. Nobody talks about a large scale solar power generation in its manifestos. Solar is the only solution. The power load ...
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  Solar is the cheapest and a sustainable energy source. It looks as if our leaders are ANTI – technology. Nobody talks about a large scale solar power generation in its manifestos. Solar is the only solution. The power load shedding we are facing currently in Ghana will push us towards a total darkness in few years to come. We have already started experiencing nation-wide blackouts. Are we waiting until we go into a total black out before these dinosaur- anti- technology leaders start doing something about it?
  The result of power outages lasting 4 to 10 hours a day is affecting commercial and industrial sectors. Because of the energy crisis in the country, manufacturing in Ghana will collapse one day. Now companies can no longer deliver on contracts because erratic power supply. Ghanaians are subjected to a mass hysteria in an environment where business, cooking, or reading can no longer be planned due to this erratic power “thing”.
  Given that the energy crisis has challenged Ghana over the past several decades, one would have hoped to see energy solutions dominating party manifestos and robust response to energy shortfall using Solar Power Stations. No investor will come into a country where power supply is erratic.
  Ghanaians should only vote for the party which has the vision of radical change in energy sector. A party that understands the need to invest in SOLAR technology.
  
  Recently, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Algeria, Morocco and Egypt have all started building Solar arrays in an effort as they try to transition towards a renewable future, but not Ghana. After the late President Kwame Nkrumah built the Akosombo Dam, our successive governments have only paid lip services by adding some parts onto these facilities built by Nkrumah. But these additions or lip services are not significant to address the generation gap. They have also imposed huge duties on solar material coming into the country, how backward can we be as a nation? We need solar power station across the country not paying a lip service to this booming solar technology by installing few panels in some villages. Ghana needs solar projects that will make a significant addition to our power generation mix.
  Our leaders have buried their heads in sand on this technology which is now cheap and stands at $0.40/Wp. Even war- torn countries like Liberia and Sierra Leone have embarked on this technology by building large scale solar stations. Solar is the only way forward, now due to increasing cell efficiency, solar products have become cheap to afford. But a country like Ghana is still singing same old song that solar power stations are expensive, if war-torn Liberia and Sierra Leone can afford it, Ghana can even do much more. We only borrow money to build white elephants across the country and buy presidential jets and a fleet of luxury vehicles for ministers. God help us.
  Algeria has just installed 650 megawatts of solar energy and wants to install a stunning 22 000 MW by 2015. And Ghana cannot even afford a 2 MW solar power station, what a shame!
  Import duties on solar equipment into the country should be abolished.

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• Nonsense 11 years ago

  Tell these Anti-technology and kokoasi leaders.

  Tell these Anti-technology and kokoasi leaders.

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• Mark Doe 11 years ago

  We in Ghana do not problem but for our useless vision less leaders that do not how to pull the country through with all the natural and human resources that God endowed us with as a nation , I cry and shall continue to cry f ...
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  We in Ghana do not problem but for our useless vision less leaders that do not how to pull the country through with all the natural and human resources that God endowed us with as a nation , I cry and shall continue to cry for my nation , Ghanaian are excelling out there as top scientist at NASA and other renounced scientific organization and most started the education here so what is our problem, leadership is the cause , when people bring ideas home the politicians demand upfront bribes or they kill the business and nobody cares , the government must set an independent one stop office to support Ghanaians that want to contribute scientifically but are facing unscrupulous politicians making initiatives from meaningful Ghanaians dying away on daily basis , I am a victim myself ,what a shame

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• anokwale 11 years ago

  Here is the problem. If you bring alternative energy business to Ghana, the government is angry because they cannot get money out of it. At the end of the day it is up to individuals to spend their own money to bring solar ...
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  Here is the problem. If you bring alternative energy business to Ghana, the government is angry because they cannot get money out of it. At the end of the day it is up to individuals to spend their own money to bring solar to their individual family units. Otherwise, the suffering will continue for generations to come.

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• YEBOPOWER 11 years ago

  Absurd.Why is Ghana still investing in thermal and hydro power whereas solar power which originates from the sun and Ghana being in sub sahara Africa will benefit from such technology.We have all seen how the sun dries up Ako ...
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  Absurd.Why is Ghana still investing in thermal and hydro power whereas solar power which originates from the sun and Ghana being in sub sahara Africa will benefit from such technology.We have all seen how the sun dries up Akosombo dam and you can use the same sun to generate electricity through solar energy.Can any one tell me what countries like Saudi Arabia,Kuwait and Dubai derive their power from.Wake up Ghanaians and let us learn.The answers are not far fetched.What we need is constructed leadership and visionary leaders across the board,not just from a president but from all.

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• ekow sego 11 years ago

  exercise your brain.Talk for Ghanaian is cheap.They should fire who?If solar was that cheap as you say Japan,France etc would not be using Nuclear energy.Tell me what serious company would invest in solar because sun is avail ...
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  exercise your brain.Talk for Ghanaian is cheap.They should fire who?If solar was that cheap as you say Japan,France etc would not be using Nuclear energy.Tell me what serious company would invest in solar because sun is available ,generate power and sell it to you half the cost of generation.If it went from loan from the bank how does it service that loan?I generate and somebody fix the price,sorry it doesnt work.nobody needs firing PURC is your problems get it straight.

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• ekow sego 11 years ago

  SO so sun is available why dont you go down North and fetch into your house for light.investment, Africa you pay $58 million to wayome for no work done and want investment and technology to flow like water.there is something ...
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  SO so sun is available why dont you go down North and fetch into your house for light.investment, Africa you pay $58 million to wayome for no work done and want investment and technology to flow like water.there is something wrong with the black mind.

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• congo 11 years ago

  If people speak the truth they should be fired! what an analogy.Not surprise the country is being ruled by sycophants lies and cowards.Good, honest mind cant fit him.We need more Fletcher's.

  If people speak the truth they should be fired! what an analogy.Not surprise the country is being ruled by sycophants lies and cowards.Good, honest mind cant fit him.We need more Fletcher's.

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• efuye 11 years ago

  am 4rom naija nd hve been in ghana 4 7years,infact hv never sin a stupid fools like d ashantis,mumu dem in europ vilegezin,cant speak comon inglish mumu

  am 4rom naija nd hve been in ghana 4 7years,infact hv never sin a stupid fools like d ashantis,mumu dem in europ vilegezin,cant speak comon inglish mumu

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• Ohene,,, 11 years ago

  Why should we Ashanti's speak English when we have ur twi,,,,u can't even spell English,,,is with E,,not I. U fucking idiot

  Why should we Ashanti's speak English when we have ur twi,,,,u can't even spell English,,,is with E,,not I. U fucking idiot

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• efuye 11 years ago

  hey ghanians should answer me do dis ashantis school b4 travilin,wat a morons,how do dey get visa,hmmm i pity ghanians ooooo

  hey ghanians should answer me do dis ashantis school b4 travilin,wat a morons,how do dey get visa,hmmm i pity ghanians ooooo

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• goodguy 11 years ago

  Is better than being 419 people.Niaja's are all 419 crooks.evry ghanaman no matter who he is 20times better than a naija person trust me.bookom haram

  Is better than being 419 people.Niaja's are all 419 crooks.evry ghanaman no matter who he is 20times better than a naija person trust me.bookom haram

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• bright jectey 11 years ago

  This country have everything we still the suffer•Our leader we need help all our things and our work are being liquidated bbecause of electricity•bring the gas

  This country have everything we still the suffer•Our leader we need help all our things and our work are being liquidated bbecause of electricity•bring the gas

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• KOFORIDUA Flowers (fr) 11 years ago

  aSIEDU nKETIA WILL BE RICHER AND RICHER AS SOLE SUPPLIER OF BLOCKS TO SUCH HYDROELECTRIC UNDER CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.aSIEDU BLOCKS HAVE NO CONTROL PRICE FOR, THE GOVT HAVE NO RIGHT TO ARGUE OVER PRICES.LONG LIVE gEN mOSQUITO. ...
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  aSIEDU nKETIA WILL BE RICHER AND RICHER AS SOLE SUPPLIER OF BLOCKS TO SUCH HYDROELECTRIC UNDER CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.aSIEDU BLOCKS HAVE NO CONTROL PRICE FOR, THE GOVT HAVE NO RIGHT TO ARGUE OVER PRICES.LONG LIVE gEN mOSQUITO.nKETIA WATCH OUT NANA ADDO WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

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• KOFI ASANTE 11 years ago

  "He said the VRA was producing electricity at a loss of 100 per cent because the consumer was paying half of what he should be paying"
  when you lose 100 per cent IT MEANS YOU LOSE EVERYTHING, NOT WHEN YOU SAY THE CONSUMER PA ...
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  "He said the VRA was producing electricity at a loss of 100 per cent because the consumer was paying half of what he should be paying"
  when you lose 100 per cent IT MEANS YOU LOSE EVERYTHING, NOT WHEN YOU SAY THE CONSUMER PAYS HALF.
  THIS IS KIND OF ILLITERATE AND MISLEADING INFORMATION GHANAIANS ARE BEING FED

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• Nii the great 11 years ago

  There are thermal power plants being built in China with capacity of 2600MW. They are using 3 133MW turbines at Bui. With the size of the reservoir they could easily have put 4 or 5 turbines at 250 MW each to produce over 100 ...
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  There are thermal power plants being built in China with capacity of 2600MW. They are using 3 133MW turbines at Bui. With the size of the reservoir they could easily have put 4 or 5 turbines at 250 MW each to produce over 100MW of power. Even when Bui is fully operational it wont meet Ghana's future energy demands. The whole project was a lack of foresight and planning. As usual

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• ABALO 11 years ago

  The Bui dam does not hold enough water to produce even the 400MW 24/7 every day. Indeed it is more of a "peaking plant", for example it can be used to produce the 400MW for maybe 4 hours each evening during the peak. if they ...
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  The Bui dam does not hold enough water to produce even the 400MW 24/7 every day. Indeed it is more of a "peaking plant", for example it can be used to produce the 400MW for maybe 4 hours each evening during the peak. if they build a plant of 1000MW as you are suggesting most of usable the water will be gone in an hour or two and the plant may have to wait several hours for the lake to refill. It is a little complicated ,mate.

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• king 11 years ago

  stop this small mind and think abit outside the box. who told u we cant make make Ghana energy hab. look I am in the solar and wind energy business and you would be amazed how much this sources can provide. we just finished ...
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  stop this small mind and think abit outside the box. who told u we cant make make Ghana energy hab. look I am in the solar and wind energy business and you would be amazed how much this sources can provide. we just finished a project in turkey where we have install 115 mega watts of power from solar and it is powering a whole community and yet you come to ghana the vra and others will give you 101 reasons why it cant be done and not how it can be done. I wonder how much they make by using crude oil. it makes no sense for us not to completly harnese these renewable energy sources with all the sun we have in the north and the amount of wind we have in the coastal areas. the thermal plants alone cost us over 1 billion dollars to install and another 3 million dollars to run on fuel, what common sense have you when u can spend have of that installation fee to intall the same capcity of solar and make the north energy hub of Ghana. think and stop making lazy excuses.

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• anokwale 11 years ago

  The problem is to get people to change their mentality. They know that Solar will work but they have two problems: 1) the initial costs 2) since the sun is free people will be able to set up there own systems without involv ...
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  The problem is to get people to change their mentality. They know that Solar will work but they have two problems: 1) the initial costs 2) since the sun is free people will be able to set up there own systems without involving them.

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• Sankofa 11 years ago

  King, please see my arlier post in this thread.
  
  Could you please explore the possibility of investing in solar and wind energy generation in our country? If you can do it in Turkey, why can you nt do it in Ghana? There is ...
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  King, please see my arlier post in this thread.
  
  Could you please explore the possibility of investing in solar and wind energy generation in our country? If you can do it in Turkey, why can you nt do it in Ghana? There is money to be made there.

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• Alex 11 years ago

  1200 usd can give you solar power for light,tv.radio,fan and charge your phone for 8 hours/
  contact me kwame_1963@msn.com or 008613580830847

  1200 usd can give you solar power for light,tv.radio,fan and charge your phone for 8 hours/
  contact me kwame_1963@msn.com or 008613580830847

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• Kwame 11 years ago

  I fail to understand the speech given by
  Mr. Sam Fletcher of VRA.How many MW of electricity is produced by Akosombo Hydroelectric plant? I hope he is not trying to confuse the public that the hydroelectric plant is also run ...
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  I fail to understand the speech given by
  Mr. Sam Fletcher of VRA.How many MW of electricity is produced by Akosombo Hydroelectric plant? I hope he is not trying to confuse the public that the hydroelectric plant is also run by boilers,hence is thermal plant.(For people who don't know about thermal electricity)A thermal power station is a power plant in which the prime mover is steam driven. Water is heated, turns into steam and spins a steam turbine which drives an electrical generator.
  PLEASE DON'T CONFUSE THE PUBLIC WHEN TRYING TO EXPLAIN CAUSE OF ELECTRICITY FAILURE.
  "SOLAR ENERGY IS THE ANSWER TO OUR PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICITY"

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• POLITICAL ZOMBIE NDC 11 years ago

  TALKING ABOUT BUI DAM & GAS PIPELINE FROM NIGERIA THESE ARE THE LEADERS GHANA NEED THANK U NPP KUFFOUR THE PARTY WITH VISION LEADERS NOT EDE BE KEKE ATONGO MAHAMA APETWE ZUMA MILLS KILLER

  TALKING ABOUT BUI DAM & GAS PIPELINE FROM NIGERIA THESE ARE THE LEADERS GHANA NEED THANK U NPP KUFFOUR THE PARTY WITH VISION LEADERS NOT EDE BE KEKE ATONGO MAHAMA APETWE ZUMA MILLS KILLER

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• ABALO 11 years ago

  There is too much mis-information about Solar power. Apart from being expensive it is not available in the nignt when it is most needed. Also solar is DC and needs elaborate converters to change to AC. The proponents of solar ...
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  There is too much mis-information about Solar power. Apart from being expensive it is not available in the nignt when it is most needed. Also solar is DC and needs elaborate converters to change to AC. The proponents of solar should find out what %age of installed capacity is Solar in developed countries. To me fully viable solar power is still very much Work-in-Progress. I will go for solarany day for remote communities where for now grid extention would be too expensive.

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