Yingli Namene West Africa (YNWA), a leading renewable energy solutions developer focused on West Africa, has started operations in the burgeoning Ghanaian renewables energy industry.
The company chalked the feat on Wednesday April 13, 2016 when the management of the company unveiled the activities on 50 Megawatts (MW) of commercial rooftop projects in Ghana and neighbouring countries over the coming years.
The company also inaugurated its office complex at a ceremony chaired by Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin II, the Okyenhene of the Akyem Abuakwa, in the Eastern Region.
The Special Guest of Honour of the event was the Deputy Minister of Power, John Abdulai Jinapor. Some chief executives of banks, businessmen and women, traditional leaders, executives of VRA and GRiDCo were in attendance.
While the CEO of Yingli Green Energy Europe GmbH was represented by Ralph Schneider from Munich, Patrick Lagrange, CEO of Namene Energy International Limited, United Kingdom and Manuel Seiffe from Yingli Europe graced the event.
Why in Ghana?
In a PowerPoint presentation, the Managing Director of Yingli Namene West Africa, Winfried Owtscharenko said their decision to venture into Ghana was driven by political and macro-economic stability of the country.
By setting up in Ghana, it will afford us the opportunity to easily serve our West African customers and potential customers with the best solar solutions and products, he stated.
Mr Owtscharenko noted that Ghana and the African continent as a whole need regular supply of electricity to develop which his company is prepared to help the country and other African countries to achieve.
To this end, Yingli Solar and Namene Energy International Limited last year incorporated a joint venture in Ghana which led to the birth of Yingli Namene West Africa (YNWA). The aim is to develop utility-scale and roof-top projects across the sub-region, according to him.
Providing reliable power for
Mr Owtscharenko stated: “Our vision is to make affordable and reliable solar power possible for communities and businesses. Solar electricity is a cost-effective way to produce electricity especially in countries with intense sunlight.”
Unlike other electricity generation plants, solar energy plants are fast to construct, need only limited maintenance and are noise and emission free, he explained.
Mr Owtscharenko debunked the long-held notion that solar energy is expensive, saying: “Solar energy is not expensive. After the initial cost you won’t incur any other cost again. It is also the best for your country.”
Core strategies
Explaining the core strategies of the company, he stated: “YNWA covers the entire project value chain from development, designing and drawing the layout of the solar plants.
It also oversees the construction management process, structuring finance through to operation and maintenance of the solar farms.”
The Chinese international renewables energy company’s technical team, both in Ghana and Europe (UK, and Germany) has the required experience in the international photovoltaic (PV) market for the operational management and technical supervision, the MD told the well-attended gather.
Gov’t lauds Yingli
In a short message, the Deputy Minister of Power, John Abdulai Jinapor thanked the Yingli for coming to set up in Ghana.
He assured the management of the company that the government would support them to grow their business in the country.
The CEO of Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), William Amuna said during the peak of the more than three years power crisis he was not affected personal by the crisis because he was using solar power.
He therefore urged Ghanaians to use solar power to power homes, offices, shops, public places, among others.
Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin II, the Okyenhene of the Akyem Abuakwa, in the Eastern Region who chaired the function, appealed to banks and other financial institutions in the country to partner with the private sector to develop solar energy financing modules for Ghanaians.
This, according to him would entice many people in the country to go for solar power thereby reducing pressure on the hydro and thermal power systems.
Companies
Yingli Solar is one of the world’s leading solar panel manufacturers with more than 50 million solar panels developed worldwide producing 13 gigawatts of electricity.
With the mission to provide affordable green energy for all, Yingli leverages global manufacturing and logistics expertise to make solar power accessible for communities everywhere.
While Namene Energy International (Namene) is a developer of renewable energy solutions with a primary market in Africa. Namene is active in the solar photovoltaic market in Togo (Namene Energy Togo SARL) and Ghana under the trading name SolarGen Ghana.
Namene’s core business is in Project Development and Financing. It brings to fruition turnkey investment programme from site location to obtaining all the required permits and licenses with above average return on investment.
By Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, African Eye Report
Email: mk68008@gmail.com
