The Role of Nuclear Energy in Ghana’s Electric Energy Mix

Edward Shitsi; Emmanuel Ampomah-Amoako; Seth Kofi Debrah; Vincent Yao Agbodemegbe; Joseph Gbadago; Felix Ameyaw

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijepe.20221103.11

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The Role of Nuclear Energy in Ghana’s Electric Energy Mix

Edward Shitsi, Emmanuel Ampomah-Amoako, Seth Kofi Debrah, Vincent Yao Agbodemegbe, Joseph Gbadago, Felix Ameyaw

Published in International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering (Volume 11, Issue 3)

Received: 19 April 2022 Accepted: 6 May 2022 Published: 19 May 2022

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Abstract

The economic growth of Ghana is linked to reliable and sustainable electric energy supply to meet industrial, administrative and domestic energy demands. This is evident from reduction in the industrial, administrative and domestic activities when there is a shortfall of electric energy demands in the country. Energy is produced from fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas), renewables (sun, wind, water) and nuclear fuel (Uranium, Plutonium, Thorium) energy sources. Fossil fuels are largely used for generating electricity, for producing fuels (oil and gas) for transportation and for providing fuels (LPG and Natural gas for cooking) for domestic use. Due to environmental concerns of greenhouse gas emissions and depletion of fossil fuel resources in addition to rapid population growth, fossil fuels alone cannot meet the energy needs of the country. Renewable sources of energy are mainly used for producing electricity and also for providing fuels for domestic use. Renewable energy is a clean energy but its reliability and sustainability cannot be guaranteed because of the variations in climatic conditions during the year. Nuclear reactors are mainly used for power generation, hydrogen production, desalination and for research (research reactors). Nuclear electricity, when introduced into the country’s electric energy mix would be used for baseload electricity production. It is the only source of electric energy that can replace a significant part of the fossil fuels which massively pollute the atmosphere and contribute to the greenhouse effect. Nuclear electric energy is potentially the enabling technology for the large-scale use of renewable electricity because nuclear energy could provide electricity demands when the sun does not shine, the wind does not blow, or the rain does not fall to fill our dams. Nuclear electric energy is a clean, safe, reliable and competitive energy; and its reliability and sustainability can be ensured but has major issues of weapons proliferation, safety, waste handling and high costs of design and building of Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) as well as public acceptance, which should be well addressed.

Published in	International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering (Volume 11, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijepe.20221103.11
Page(s)	68-76
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Nuclear Electric Energy, Baseload Electricity Production, Renewable Energy, Fossil Fuel Energy, Nuclear Reactor

References

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[3]	Arthur, J. L. and Asiedu-Okantah, S., 2021b. A Review of the Causes of Sustainable Supply Deficiencies in Natural Gas Supply in Ghana. Journal of Power and Energy Engineering, 9, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.4236/jpee.2021.94001
[4]	Energy Commission, 2011. Energy Supply and Demand Outlook for Ghana. Energy Commission, Ghana, 44 pages. http://www.energycom.gov.gh/planning/data-center/energy-outlook-for-ghana?download=79:energy-outlook-for-ghana-2011
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[16]	Energy Commission, 2020. 2020 Electricity Supply Plan for the Ghana Power System: a mid-year review. https:// energ ycom. gov. gh/ files/2020% 20Sup ply% 20Plan% 20Mid% 20Year% 20Rev iew. pdf. Accessed 14Sept 2020.
[17]	Osei-Tutu, P., Boadi, S., and Kusi-Kyei, V., 2021. Electrical energy transition in the context of Ghana. Energy, Sustainability and Society 11: 47, 8 pages.
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APA Style

Edward Shitsi, Emmanuel Ampomah-Amoako, Seth Kofi Debrah, Vincent Yao Agbodemegbe, Joseph Gbadago, et al. (2022). The Role of Nuclear Energy in Ghana’s Electric Energy Mix. International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering, 11(3), 68-76. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20221103.11

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ACS Style

Edward Shitsi; Emmanuel Ampomah-Amoako; Seth Kofi Debrah; Vincent Yao Agbodemegbe; Joseph Gbadago, et al. The Role of Nuclear Energy in Ghana’s Electric Energy Mix. Int. J. Energy Power Eng. 2022, 11(3), 68-76. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepe.20221103.11

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AMA Style

Edward Shitsi, Emmanuel Ampomah-Amoako, Seth Kofi Debrah, Vincent Yao Agbodemegbe, Joseph Gbadago, et al. The Role of Nuclear Energy in Ghana’s Electric Energy Mix. Int J Energy Power Eng. 2022;11(3):68-76. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepe.20221103.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijepe.20221103.11,
  author = {Edward Shitsi and Emmanuel Ampomah-Amoako and Seth Kofi Debrah and Vincent Yao Agbodemegbe and Joseph Gbadago and Felix Ameyaw},
  title = {The Role of Nuclear Energy in Ghana’s Electric Energy Mix},
  journal = {International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering},
  volume = {11},
  number = {3},
  pages = {68-76},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijepe.20221103.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20221103.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijepe.20221103.11},
  abstract = {The economic growth of Ghana is linked to reliable and sustainable electric energy supply to meet industrial, administrative and domestic energy demands. This is evident from reduction in the industrial, administrative and domestic activities when there is a shortfall of electric energy demands in the country. Energy is produced from fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas), renewables (sun, wind, water) and nuclear fuel (Uranium, Plutonium, Thorium) energy sources. Fossil fuels are largely used for generating electricity, for producing fuels (oil and gas) for transportation and for providing fuels (LPG and Natural gas for cooking) for domestic use. Due to environmental concerns of greenhouse gas emissions and depletion of fossil fuel resources in addition to rapid population growth, fossil fuels alone cannot meet the energy needs of the country. Renewable sources of energy are mainly used for producing electricity and also for providing fuels for domestic use. Renewable energy is a clean energy but its reliability and sustainability cannot be guaranteed because of the variations in climatic conditions during the year. Nuclear reactors are mainly used for power generation, hydrogen production, desalination and for research (research reactors). Nuclear electricity, when introduced into the country’s electric energy mix would be used for baseload electricity production. It is the only source of electric energy that can replace a significant part of the fossil fuels which massively pollute the atmosphere and contribute to the greenhouse effect. Nuclear electric energy is potentially the enabling technology for the large-scale use of renewable electricity because nuclear energy could provide electricity demands when the sun does not shine, the wind does not blow, or the rain does not fall to fill our dams. Nuclear electric energy is a clean, safe, reliable and competitive energy; and its reliability and sustainability can be ensured but has major issues of weapons proliferation, safety, waste handling and high costs of design and building of Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) as well as public acceptance, which should be well addressed.},
 year = {2022}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Role of Nuclear Energy in Ghana’s Electric Energy Mix
AU  - Edward Shitsi
AU  - Emmanuel Ampomah-Amoako
AU  - Seth Kofi Debrah
AU  - Vincent Yao Agbodemegbe
AU  - Joseph Gbadago
AU  - Felix Ameyaw
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PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20221103.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijepe.20221103.11
T2  - International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering
JF  - International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering
JO  - International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering
SP  - 68
EP  - 76
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2326-960X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20221103.11
AB  - The economic growth of Ghana is linked to reliable and sustainable electric energy supply to meet industrial, administrative and domestic energy demands. This is evident from reduction in the industrial, administrative and domestic activities when there is a shortfall of electric energy demands in the country. Energy is produced from fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas), renewables (sun, wind, water) and nuclear fuel (Uranium, Plutonium, Thorium) energy sources. Fossil fuels are largely used for generating electricity, for producing fuels (oil and gas) for transportation and for providing fuels (LPG and Natural gas for cooking) for domestic use. Due to environmental concerns of greenhouse gas emissions and depletion of fossil fuel resources in addition to rapid population growth, fossil fuels alone cannot meet the energy needs of the country. Renewable sources of energy are mainly used for producing electricity and also for providing fuels for domestic use. Renewable energy is a clean energy but its reliability and sustainability cannot be guaranteed because of the variations in climatic conditions during the year. Nuclear reactors are mainly used for power generation, hydrogen production, desalination and for research (research reactors). Nuclear electricity, when introduced into the country’s electric energy mix would be used for baseload electricity production. It is the only source of electric energy that can replace a significant part of the fossil fuels which massively pollute the atmosphere and contribute to the greenhouse effect. Nuclear electric energy is potentially the enabling technology for the large-scale use of renewable electricity because nuclear energy could provide electricity demands when the sun does not shine, the wind does not blow, or the rain does not fall to fill our dams. Nuclear electric energy is a clean, safe, reliable and competitive energy; and its reliability and sustainability can be ensured but has major issues of weapons proliferation, safety, waste handling and high costs of design and building of Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) as well as public acceptance, which should be well addressed.
VL  - 11
IS  - 3
ER  -

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Author Information

Edward Shitsi

Department of Nuclear Engineering, School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Kwabenya, Ghana
Emmanuel Ampomah-Amoako

Department of Nuclear Engineering, School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Kwabenya, Ghana
Seth Kofi Debrah

Department of Nuclear Engineering, School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Kwabenya, Ghana
Vincent Yao Agbodemegbe

Department of Nuclear Engineering, School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Kwabenya, Ghana
Joseph Gbadago

National Nuclear Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Kwabenya, Ghana
Felix Ameyaw

Department of Nuclear Engineering, School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Kwabenya, Ghana

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Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Edward Shitsi, Emmanuel Ampomah-Amoako, Seth Kofi Debrah, Vincent Yao Agbodemegbe, Joseph Gbadago, et al. (2022). The Role of Nuclear Energy in Ghana’s Electric Energy Mix. International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering, 11(3), 68-76. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20221103.11

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ACS Style

Edward Shitsi; Emmanuel Ampomah-Amoako; Seth Kofi Debrah; Vincent Yao Agbodemegbe; Joseph Gbadago, et al. The Role of Nuclear Energy in Ghana’s Electric Energy Mix. Int. J. Energy Power Eng. 2022, 11(3), 68-76. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepe.20221103.11

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Edward Shitsi, Emmanuel Ampomah-Amoako, Seth Kofi Debrah, Vincent Yao Agbodemegbe, Joseph Gbadago, et al. The Role of Nuclear Energy in Ghana’s Electric Energy Mix. Int J Energy Power Eng. 2022;11(3):68-76. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepe.20221103.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijepe.20221103.11,
  author = {Edward Shitsi and Emmanuel Ampomah-Amoako and Seth Kofi Debrah and Vincent Yao Agbodemegbe and Joseph Gbadago and Felix Ameyaw},
  title = {The Role of Nuclear Energy in Ghana’s Electric Energy Mix},
  journal = {International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering},
  volume = {11},
  number = {3},
  pages = {68-76},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijepe.20221103.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20221103.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijepe.20221103.11},
  abstract = {The economic growth of Ghana is linked to reliable and sustainable electric energy supply to meet industrial, administrative and domestic energy demands. This is evident from reduction in the industrial, administrative and domestic activities when there is a shortfall of electric energy demands in the country. Energy is produced from fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas), renewables (sun, wind, water) and nuclear fuel (Uranium, Plutonium, Thorium) energy sources. Fossil fuels are largely used for generating electricity, for producing fuels (oil and gas) for transportation and for providing fuels (LPG and Natural gas for cooking) for domestic use. Due to environmental concerns of greenhouse gas emissions and depletion of fossil fuel resources in addition to rapid population growth, fossil fuels alone cannot meet the energy needs of the country. Renewable sources of energy are mainly used for producing electricity and also for providing fuels for domestic use. Renewable energy is a clean energy but its reliability and sustainability cannot be guaranteed because of the variations in climatic conditions during the year. Nuclear reactors are mainly used for power generation, hydrogen production, desalination and for research (research reactors). Nuclear electricity, when introduced into the country’s electric energy mix would be used for baseload electricity production. It is the only source of electric energy that can replace a significant part of the fossil fuels which massively pollute the atmosphere and contribute to the greenhouse effect. Nuclear electric energy is potentially the enabling technology for the large-scale use of renewable electricity because nuclear energy could provide electricity demands when the sun does not shine, the wind does not blow, or the rain does not fall to fill our dams. Nuclear electric energy is a clean, safe, reliable and competitive energy; and its reliability and sustainability can be ensured but has major issues of weapons proliferation, safety, waste handling and high costs of design and building of Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) as well as public acceptance, which should be well addressed.},
 year = {2022}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Role of Nuclear Energy in Ghana’s Electric Energy Mix
AU  - Edward Shitsi
AU  - Emmanuel Ampomah-Amoako
AU  - Seth Kofi Debrah
AU  - Vincent Yao Agbodemegbe
AU  - Joseph Gbadago
AU  - Felix Ameyaw
Y1  - 2022/05/19
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20221103.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijepe.20221103.11
T2  - International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering
JF  - International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering
JO  - International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering
SP  - 68
EP  - 76
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2326-960X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20221103.11
AB  - The economic growth of Ghana is linked to reliable and sustainable electric energy supply to meet industrial, administrative and domestic energy demands. This is evident from reduction in the industrial, administrative and domestic activities when there is a shortfall of electric energy demands in the country. Energy is produced from fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas), renewables (sun, wind, water) and nuclear fuel (Uranium, Plutonium, Thorium) energy sources. Fossil fuels are largely used for generating electricity, for producing fuels (oil and gas) for transportation and for providing fuels (LPG and Natural gas for cooking) for domestic use. Due to environmental concerns of greenhouse gas emissions and depletion of fossil fuel resources in addition to rapid population growth, fossil fuels alone cannot meet the energy needs of the country. Renewable sources of energy are mainly used for producing electricity and also for providing fuels for domestic use. Renewable energy is a clean energy but its reliability and sustainability cannot be guaranteed because of the variations in climatic conditions during the year. Nuclear reactors are mainly used for power generation, hydrogen production, desalination and for research (research reactors). Nuclear electricity, when introduced into the country’s electric energy mix would be used for baseload electricity production. It is the only source of electric energy that can replace a significant part of the fossil fuels which massively pollute the atmosphere and contribute to the greenhouse effect. Nuclear electric energy is potentially the enabling technology for the large-scale use of renewable electricity because nuclear energy could provide electricity demands when the sun does not shine, the wind does not blow, or the rain does not fall to fill our dams. Nuclear electric energy is a clean, safe, reliable and competitive energy; and its reliability and sustainability can be ensured but has major issues of weapons proliferation, safety, waste handling and high costs of design and building of Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) as well as public acceptance, which should be well addressed.
VL  - 11
IS  - 3
ER  -

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