VRA plans to turn Akosombo Dam into power battery
By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
The Volta River Authority (VRA) is exploring an ambitious plan to convert the Akosombo Hydroelectric Dam into a massive ‘power battery,’ positioning it as a key energy storage hub to complement Ghana’s renewable energy transition.
During a briefing to Parliament’s Energy Committee on Saturday, 27 September, VRA Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ing. Edward Ekow Obeng-Kenzo, said a feasibility study is underway to enable the dam to store renewable energy for later use.
“As we transition to renewables, and because solar power is only available during the day, we want to use Akosombo as a battery. During daytime solar production, we will preserve water, and in the evening we’ll generate hydropower to serve the country,” he explained.
Ing. Obeng-Kenzo stressed that the approach would help lower costs compared to conventional battery storage and could eventually benefit the entire subregion.
“When we succeed, we can replicate it for West Africa because we have a huge water resource and sufficient capacity to stabilise prices and supply,” he said.
The Acting VRA CEO assured legislators that Ghana’s major hydro facilities remain sound and efficient.
He revealed that the Akosombo and Akuse dams have undergone extensive retrofitting and rigorous international assessments.
“We conduct five-year dam assessments with global experts. They visited three years ago and will return in two years. Their recommendations have enabled us to extend Akosombo’s lifespan by nearly 40 years and Akuse’s by 30 years,” Ing. Obeng-Kenzo.
The Energy Committee, led by Chairman, Emmanuel Bedzrah, is on a three-day nationwide monitoring tour of critical power sector agencies, including GRIDCo, PURC, ECG, the Energy Commission and VRA.
Mr Bedzrah said the visits aim to assess the state of Ghana’s power sector and make critical recommendations to Parliament on legislation and policies to strengthen the sector.
The tour will conclude with inspections of the Akosombo, Akuse and Bui dams.
