50 MW Yendi solar farm is nearing completion

A fully Ghanaian-owned 50MW solar photovoltaic (PV) farm under construction in Yendi, Northern Region, is expected to be operational by the second quarter of 2025. The project, which started on 30 September 2023, is already 65% complete. Spanning 140 acres, the farm includes a 5km access road and staff accommodations built as part of the project. Once completed, it will become Ghana’s second-largest solar energy project, after the 55MW solar PV farm at Bui.

Eric Seddy Kutortse, Executive Chairman of First Sky Group, the Ghanaian company leading the engineering, procurement, and financing of the project, confirmed the company’s broader plans to construct an additional 200MW of renewable energy capacity in Yapei and Salaga, also in the Northern Region. These new projects are expected to be connected to the national grid within the next two years.

“The solar project [in Yendi], spanning 140 acres, will contribute significantly to enhancing Ghana’s energy security and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Furthermore, the integration of our upcoming renewable energy projects in Yapei and Salaga with the national grid will ensure a stable and sustainable electricity supply for the nation,” Kutortse said in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA).

The $59 million Yendi solar PV farm has been financed through an EPC+F (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction and Finance) agreement, with the Bui Power Authority (BPA) set to repay the investment over eight years after the Commercial Operation Date (COD). BPA, mandated by the government to develop renewable energy and other clean energy alternatives, will generate and sell the power once the project becomes operational. The solar panels, which come with a 25-year warranty, underline the long-term sustainability of the initiative.

In September 2024, representatives from the First Sky Group and BPA visited the site to evaluate progress. Peter Acheampong, BPA’s Director of Renewable Energy, provided a comprehensive overview of the project’s infrastructure, which includes DC and AC equipment, internal transmission lines, drainage systems, staff accommodation, and access roads.

Highlighting the significance of the project, Kutortse noted that it was executed entirely by Ghanaians without any foreign assistance. “This is a first-of-its-kind initiative—a fully Ghanaian-owned renewable energy project,” he said.

Chair of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Energy, Owuraku Aidoo, emphasized that the Yendi solar farm aligns with the government’s target of achieving 10% renewable energy within Ghana’s total energy mix.