First Sea Wave Electric Plant To Be Constructed In Ada

Ghana’s energy sector is set to receive a major boost, with the signing of a contract for the construction of the first wave energy plant in Ghana, near Ada in the Greater Accra region.

According to TC’s Energy, a Ghanaian renewable energy production company, the 100 Megawatt wave plant, when delivered in 24 months, will be one of the largest wave energy projects in the world.

The Chief Executive Officer of TC’s Energy, Anthony Opoku tells Citi Business News that Ghana has the perfect conditions to generate substantial amounts of electricity from sea waves.

“Seabased and TC Energy have signed a 100 Megawatt agreement to build one of the biggest wave power plant in the world in Ghana. The wave is stable in this country, but we don’t have the financial and technical ability to harness the waves to generate power. That’s why I had to get the technical and financial partners needed to make this project materialize. And as long as there is stable wave movement, we will continue to generate energy and eventually feed it into the national grid.”

Mr. Opoku was speaking on the sidelines of a press conference to announce the support of Fidelity Bank and Glico Insurance for the Tidal Wave Energy Project of TC’s Energy.

TC’s Energy is focused on developing and spreading renewable ocean energy throughout Ghana and the West African coast, which has a large population concentration.

The 100 MW plant could provide all the electricity needed for tens of thousands of Ghanaian homes, year after year, from a nearly invisible wave park that produces no pollution and creates an artificial reef for marine life.

Seabased Chief Executive Officer Øivind Magnussen and Mr. Opoku met at the Ocean Energy Europe offices in Brussels on 20 March 2018 for a formal signing of the contract.

Seabased CEO Magnussen said, “This is a very exciting day for Seabased, and one both companies have been preparing for diligently for years. The necessary studies, permits and PPA are all in place, and we have the experience of a successful pilot under our belt. We feel well-prepared to step into this final phase of manufacturing and delivering the wave park.

“We are proud to be working with TC’s Energy, a pioneer in the commercial development of the fantastic wave resource in Ghana.”

According to Rémi Gruet, CEO of the industry organization Ocean Energy Europe, “This deal is a world first, and a bold step towards commercialization for wave energy. We applaud the Ghanaian government’s out of the box thinking and visionary approach to electricity production. While at an early stage, ocean energy is already investigating global markets and benefiting both the EU and local economies through access to electricity, local jobs, and energy security.”

TC’s Energy, which holds a power purchase agreement for 1000 MW with Electric Company of Ghana Ltd, will own and operate the wave plant.

“This contract marks the culmination of a long process toward building Africa’s first utility-scale wave park, and we hope will lead to the expansion of renewable energy across Ghana and West Africa,” said Opoku.

“The commercial viability of Seabased’s mechanically simple, yet robust design appealed from the beginning. It is very well suited for the wave climate of Ghana,” he added.

Seabased is contracted to design, manufacture, and install the turnkey wave energy park with an option for local final assembly of non-core technology as the project scales up.

This would create local jobs in Ghana. Additional jobs would be created in operations and maintenance of the wave park, according to a memorandum of understanding.