Energy economics and optimal generation mix of selected power plants technologies in Ghana

• Main Authors: N. Asiedu, P. Adu, E.K. Anto, A. Duodu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2019-01-01
• Series: Scientific African
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227618300607

Currently most countries in Africa are plagued with a persistent trend of inadequate power supply, which has a ripple effect on all sectors of the economy. Governments needs to expand electricity generation and supply and manage the existing generating facilities efficiently and effectively to make electricity accessible and less expensive. In this study eleven power plant technologies were analyzed in terms of fuel type, fuel cost and carbon dioxide emissions. Economic analysis of each power plant was analyzed. With the help of screening and load-duration curves, the optimum generation mix was determined. The paper therefore concludes that SGT-400 Technology of 80 MW with 3, 6% contribution to the current load should be used as peaking power plant. Orenda OGT25000 Technology of 220 MW rated capacity which contributes 10% to the load should be used for Mid-load generation, while Coal Supercritical Technology of 1500 MW capacity should be used as Base-Load power plant. However, the other technologies considered in the analysis were found to uneconomical and cannot be advice to be used in power generation. Keywords: Power plants, Fuel, Electricity cost, Energy economics, Optimal mix