UENR hosts Ghana Battery Network, as the nation transitions to Electric Vehicles system

By Christopher Tetteh, GNA 

Sunyani, (Bono), Oct 23, GNA- The Ghana Battery Network (GBN) has been launched at the Regional Center for Energy and Environmental Sustainability (RCEES) of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR). 

With support from the Faraday Institute, the GBN sought to shift the nation’s focus from battery imports toward local value addition, research, skills development, and domestic manufacturing, as Ghana transitions to the Electric Vehicles (EVs) transportation system. 

Faraday Institution is a United Kingdom (UK)’s independent institute for electrochemical energy storage research and skills development. 

The GBN connects key stakeholders in the battery value chain to advance innovations for sustainable energy as the nation transitions to the use of Electric Vehicles (EVs). 

 “Our vision is to position Ghana as a leading African hub for sustainable battery technologies, innovation and local value addition”, says Mr George Kwadwo Appiah, the Chief Executive Officer of the GBN. 

Speaking at the launch of the GBN at the UENR’s main campus at Fiapre, near Sunyani, he explained that the Network could achieve the vision through collaboration, knowledge exchange, research, innovation, capacity building, and evidence-based policy engagement. 

Mr Appiah indicated that the battery value chain had huge economic potential for the nation, saying that it could create several job opportunities for the youth. 

He said huge business and economic prospects like manufacturing, storage systems, integration and assembling of battery parts and repairs awaited the nation. 

Dr Gifty Serwaa Mensah, the Battery Ambassador for the Faraday Institute noted that the government of Ghana and its regulatory bodies had an integral role to play in the battery industry. 

She said that batteries were essential in promoting reliability and sustainability of the E-Vs usage in the country. 

“Ghana plays an integral role in local battery production to reduce the nation’s over-reliance and dependency on import as demand for E-Vs advance”. 

Dr Serwaa stated that the GBN would add value to the nation’s mineral resources, attract investments and boost economic growth and development. 

She added that: “Batteries really matter in Ghana’s future in the ways of renewable integration, electric mobility, local value chain, grid stability and flexibility as well as off-grid electrification”. 
GNA 
Edited by Dennis Peprah/Kenneth Odeng Adade 
Reporter: Christopher Tetteh 
Email: [email protected]