By Edward Dankwah
Accra, Dec 2, GNA – The Government through the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, and its relevant partners have launched a new Net Metering Web Application Portal, designed to streamline access to smart net meters under the Scaling-Up Renewable Energy Program (SREP Ghana).
The portal has been described as a milestone in Ghana’s long pursuit of a cleaner and more resilient energy future.
During the launch, Mr. Richard Gyan-Mensah, the Deputy Minister for Energy and Green Transition, said Ghana’s net metering journey began in 2011 with the passage of the Renewable Energy Act.
He said earlier attempts at implementation provided “invaluable lessons” that had now shaped a more efficient and scalable system.
He highlighted that the introduction of the digital portal came at a critical time, as distributed renewable energy had become the fastest-growing segment of Ghana’s power sector, currently accounting for nearly 35 per cent of total installed capacity.
“Falling technology costs, increased demand for greener production, and stronger Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) commitments are driving this growth,” he said.
He said the new platform offered households, businesses, industries, and public institutions an easier way to apply for smart meters under SREP, and would also enable the government to track every renewable energy system installed nationwide, strengthening planning and oversight.
Mr. Gyan-Mensah said the programme contributed to Ghana’s goal of achieving 10 per cent renewable energy penetration by 2030, especially in off-grid and underserved communities.
He referenced Ghana’s recently announced US$3.4 billion renewable energy investment plan, explaining that distributed systems would take up nearly 20 per cent of the planned investments, alongside utility-scale solar, solar irrigation, and hybrid solar-wind-hydrogen projects.
The Deputy Minister said Ghana’s current renewable energy capacity stood at 280 MW, representing about 5 per cent of the national energy mix.
“The ministry expects this to rise to 7 per cent by 2027, partly through SREP’s installation of 12,000 net-metered systems across secondary schools, hospitals, local assemblies, homes, and SMEs,” he added.
He expressed hope that Ghana would surpass the programme’s 70 MW net-metering target, urging the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), and other relevant agencies to link the new portal to their websites to ensure smooth access.
He also reminded applicants to avoid oversizing their systems, since net metering in Ghana is based on energy exchange rather than cash payments.
Mr Gyan-Mensah acknowledged the Ministry of Finance for releasing GHC 48 million in counterpart funding, with GHC 38.6 million allocated by the end of the third quarter of 2025, adding that processes were underway to transfer the funds into the designated SREP account before the end of the year.
Ing. Eunice Biritwum, Executive Secretary, Energy Commission, said between 2013 and 2016, the Energy Commission and the ECG installed 37 electromechanical meters across pilot sites, followed by the deployment of 350 bidirectional AMR smart meters, steps that laid the foundation for Ghana’s modern net metering system.
Ing. Biritwum acknowledged the German Development Agency (GIZ) for supporting the early development of net metering frameworks, including the drafting of the first net metering code and grid codes for integrating intermittent renewable energy sources.
She said although the sector encountered challenges in 2017, recent years had seen significant progress, largely driven by the SREP, funded by the Climate Investment Funds, African Development Bank, the Swiss Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), and the Government of Ghana.
The Executive Secretary said the portal, part of the SREP Net Metering Solar PV component, would serve as the unified digital platform for submitting, processing, and tracking all net metering applications in Ghana.
“The system introduces transparency, efficiency, and stronger coordination among key institutions, including the Ministry of Energy, the Energy Commission, PURC, ECG, NEDCo, development partners, and other sector stakeholders,” she added.
GNA
Edited by Christian Akorlie