The Mass adoption of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) as the standard lighting device in Ghana has translated into an annual cash earning of 33 million dollars and carbon savings of 105,000 tons per annum, a report has disclosed.
Electricity demand in the country was reduced by 124 megawatts in 2008 as a result of the use of the lamps, thus helping Ghana to avoid the use of one of the thermal electricity generating turbines acquired to ease the
pressure at Akosombo, the report further revealed.
The report was to assess the socio-economic impact of using energy-efficient electrical gadgets in the country.
Prof. Abeeku Brew Hammond, Board Chairman for the Energy Commission (EC) made this known on Tuesday at a forum organized by the commission to
interact with the media in Accra.
The purpose of the forum was to inform the public on progress so far made by the Commission and to announce the targets for 2010 and beyond.
Prof. Hammond said major accomplishments of the Commission included the enactment of three regulations covering fluorescent and incandescent
filament lamps, household refrigerating appliances and air conditions, endorsement of 11 pieces of legislation on technical and operational rules and standards of performance of public utilities engaged in the supply and
distribution of electricity and natural gas.
Others, he said, included urging the government to make it mandatory for oil marketing companies to have dedicated tankers labeled premix
gasoline and the implementation of colour dye in premix gasoline by the Tema Oil Refinery.
Prof. Hammond said the Commission had set as its target for the year, a completion of woodfuels and biofuels policy and legislative framework,passage of renewable energy law, completion of grid-connected solar and wind
pilot projects, and the establishment of a Ghana Renewable Energy Fund (Greenfund).
He said the commission had approved a project to enforce minimum energy performance standards for fridges and freezers, adding “only refrigerating appliances that meet minimum energy performance standards, belonging to the
sub-tropical or tropical climate specifications and have been labeled appropriately can be placed on the Ghanaian market.”
The Commission, which was established in 1997, is an institution that makes national energy policy recommendations to the Minister of Energy and advises him on national policies for the efficient, economic and safe supply
of electricity, petroleum products and natural gas having due regard to the national economy.
As a regulator, it licenses public utilities for the transmission, wholesale supply, distribution and sale of electricity and natural gas to consumers by public utilities.
The Commission acts as a planning institution that prepares, reviews and updates periodically, indicative national plans to ensure that all reasonable demands for energy are met.