Assessment of agricultural residue potential for electrification of off-grid communities in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District of Ghana

Abstract

Background: There is a close link between the lack of electricity access and poverty indicators like illiteracy, high infant mortality, lack of access to health care, malnutrition among others. Most rural communities in Ghana, which are mainly farming communities, lack access to electricity due to the high cost of extending grid connection to these communities, and this worsens their poverty levels. Methods: This study assessed the technical and theoretical potential of agricultural residues in providing electricity to off-grid communities. The study utilized the crop production figures of maize, cassava, millet and groundnut in Soma and Goyire, which are farming communities in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District, to conduct assessment of the theoretical and technical potential of residues from the crops. The production figures of these crops were obtained from the District office of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Expected electricity demand of households, schools and health centres in the study communities were collected and used for the projected load demand estimates. Results: The study found that 1,767.64 kW of electricity could be generated from the combined residues of maize, cassava, millet and groundnut. This electricity is capable of providing about 27 to 35 times the peak electricity demand of the communities where the studies were conducted. It was also found out that, out of the total electricity demand of the communities, only about 20 kW is needed for use in a school and Community Health Promotion and Services (CHPS) compound, implying electricity from crop residues can also help to improve upon education and health provision in rural communities by using them for electricity generation. Conclusion: From this study, it can be concluded that, the potential of crop residue in meeting the electricity demand of off-grid communities is enormous hence must be considered in Ghana’s energy development plans in order to achieve universal electricity access.