Dr. B.K. Kortatsi, has stated that it is important for Ghana to make investments in both human capital and technology in order to make headway in the fields of alternative energy, this was because the country lacked the requisite human capital and technology.
Dr. B.K. Kortatsi, a representative from the Ministry of Energy, made this statement at a Workshop on the “Development of Second Generation Biofuels” at KNUST. Dr. Kortatsi noted that, though Ghana pride itself in her engineers, technologists and technicians who produce and distribute energy from Akosombo, she lacked the capacity to engage in large scale alternative production.
He said that Ghana needed clean and renewable energy to develop and that investment in clean and renewable energy sources could significantly enhance energy, economic and financial security for the nation. He called for the use of alternative fuels in place of conventional fossil fuels as a way to reduce Ghana’s dependence on fossil oil and to reduce Green House Emissions, (GHGE’s).
Dr. Kortatsi further stated that worldwide, the energy sector is responsible for two-thirds of Green House Gases Emissions,(GHGE’s) worldwide , and the costs of climate change in terms of adaptability would range about fifty to one hundred and seventy(17o) billion dollars.
Dr. Essel Ben Hagan noted that the programme which was being sponsored by the Royal Society in the United Kingdom was a follow up to a similar programme held last year. He said the programme which started in 2009 was a platform to share knowledge on sustainable ways of developing thermal energy. Again, experts would look at the development of second generation of biofuels so that it did not conflict with food security.
Herbert Obiri, Acting Director of CSIR-IIR, stated that Ghana is blessed with the abundance of biomass. However, its traditional use as fuel source places limitations on the overall utilization of such a resource. He said agricultural residues such as corn stalks and cobs, rice husks, among others, if converted to fuel products by any of the thermal conversion technologies into second generation biofuels would also be additional means of adding revenue to the overall farming activity and would lead to the reduction of poverty among peasant farmers.
Professor Abeku Brew Hammond, Director of the Energy Centre, noted that Africa had the potential to become the major pyrolysis-oils suppliers in the world with its abundant biomass resources. He revealed that the biofuel industry in Ghana is currently limited to first generation biofuels such as jahropha and sunflower. The trend needed to be reversed by using agricultural residues such as feedstock to provide additional income for farmers in order to reduce poverty in the rural areas.
Prof. Brew Hammond was hopeful that Ghana and Africa would benefit from collaboration with international experts to build up research capacities for commercial exploitation of its vast biomass resources.
Dr. Abdulai B. Salifu, Director of the Institute of Industrial Research of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, (CSIR-IIR), mentioned that the development of second generation biofuel had received global attention. He said the production of GHGE’s and their effect on climate change, global warming, environmental degradation and food security have generated serious international concern. This had culminated in an aggressive global desire and efforts to promote the development of biofuels as alternative sustainable energy sources for economic growth and the protection of the environment, especially in reducing GHGE’s and their effects on climate change.
Dr. Abdulai noted that the potential threat of first generation biofuels have given new impetus for focused attention on the sustainable production of second generation of biofuels in furtherance of preserving the environment.
He said developed countries have developed policies to support the development of second generation biofuels. However, many African countries including Ghana which had vast agricultural and forestry resources and abound in biomass potential required for producing second generation biofuels lacked the requisite expertise, infraustructure and research.
He therefore praised the collaboration between the parties involved to further develop and explore on a large scale for Ghana to become a major supplier of biofuel.
The Workshop was jointly organized by the Institute of Industrial Research of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute for Industrial Research,(CSIR-IIR),Ghana, The Energy Centre, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology , Ghana, the College of Engineering Sciences of the University of Southampton,UK.
The workshop was aimed at bringing together academia, industry and policy makers in Ghana to deliberate on the promotion of second generation biofuels in Africa and to share knowledge on the state of the art of relevant technologies, especially fast pyrolysis.
It also sought to establish effective training mechanisms to Ghana and other African countries and to promote and facilitate the UK-Africa collaborations on biofuel research and production.
