BXC Solar Power Station

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BXC Solar Power Station
BXC Solar Power Station
Country Ghana
LocationGomoa Onyandze, Gomoa West District, Central Region
Coordinates 05°22′22″N00°41′36″W / 5.37278°N 0.69333°W / 5.37278; -0.69333
StatusOperational
Commission date April 2016
Construction costUS$30 million
OwnerBeijing Xiaocheng Company
OperatorBeijing Xiaocheng Company
Solar farm
Type Flat-panel PV
Site area100 acres (40 ha)
Power generation
Nameplate capacity 20 MW (27,000 hp)

BXC Solar Power Station, also Onyandze Solar Power Station, is an operational 20 megawatt solar power plant in Ghana. The solar farm was developed, financed and is owned and operated by Beijing Xiaocheng Company, a Chinese independent power producer (IPP). The power station, commercially commissioned in April 2016, was the largest grid-ready IPP solar farm in Ghana, at that time. The energy generated at this power station is evacuated via a high voltage transmission line to a substation at Winneba Roundabout, where it enters the national grid. [1]

Contents

Location

The power station is Located on 100 acres (40 ha), in the settlement of Gomoa Onyandze, in Gomoa West District, in the Central Region of Ghana, close to the town of Otaw, Ghana. [1] This is about 11 kilometres (7 mi), west of Winneba, the nearest large town. [2] Otaw is located approximately 71 kilometres (44 mi) west of Accra, the capital and largest city of Ghana. [3] The geographical coordinates of BXC Solar Power Station are 05°22'22.0"N, 0°41'36.0"W (Latitude: 5.372778; Longitude:-0.693333). [4] This solar farm is in close proximity to the 20 megawatt Gomoa Onyaadze Solar Power Station. [5]

Overview

The power station has an installed maximum generation capacity of 20 megawatts, although the owner/developers have plans of expanding generation capacity to 40 megawatts. [1] The energy generated here is conveyed via a high voltage transmission line from the power station to a substation belonging to Power Distribution Services Ghana (PDSG), formerly Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), where the energy enters the national grid. A long-term power purchase agreement, between PDSG and the owner/operators of the power station governs the terms of sale and purchase of the energy. [6] [7]

Ownership

The power station is owned by Beijing Xiaocheng Company (BXC), an electronics and technology company, based in Beijing, China. The parent company has a Ghanaian subsidiary, BXC Ghana Limited. The parent funded and constructed the solar farm. The local subsidiary operates and manages the power station. [7] [8]

Challenges

Ghana's renewable energy projects, including BXC Solar, face issues such as delayed payments from ECG, limited financing for expansion, and regulatory bottlenecks. [9] [10]

Funding

The cost of construction is reported to be US$30 million, incurred by the developer/owners of the power plant. [1] [11]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Ghana's Largest Solar PV Project Just Connected To The Grid". CleanTechnica. 17 April 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  2. "Road Distance Between Winneba, Ghana And Otaw, Ghana with Map" (Map). Google Maps . Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  3. "Road Distance Between Accra, Ghana And Otaw, Ghana With Interactive Map" (Map). Google Maps . Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  4. "Location of BXC Solar Power Station" (Map). Google Maps . Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  5. "About Gomoa Onyaadze Solar Power Plant". ECOWAS Observatory for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (Ecowrex). Praia, Cape Verde. September 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  6. Antony Kiganda (25 April 2016). "Newly constructed 20MW power plant in Ghana begins operation". Construction Review Online. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Chinese tech firm leads Ghana's solar energy breakthrough". China Daily . Beijing, China. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  8. "BXC completes 20 MW solar project in Ghana". Photon.Info. Aachen, Germany. 13 July 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  9. Renewable energy market analysis. United Arab Emirates: International Renewable Energy Agency. January 2022. ISBN   978-92-9260-428-0.{{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
  10. "International Renewable Energy Agency". January 2021.
  11. "About Onyandze Solar Power Plant (BXC Solar Power Station)". ECOWAS Observatory for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (Ecowrex). Praia, Cape Verde. April 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2021.