Solar energy plays a vital role in Ghana’s energy transition. The PV system at SILAP Guesthouse was installed in February 2015 and has since proven to be a reliable source of energy. By harnessing solar energy, we are contributing to a sustainable future for Ghana.

„Cutting corners on quality costs twice!“ After only 2.5 years, new inverters and PV inverters were needed. As a practical project during the installation course, the participants installed three new inverters from Studer Innotec and four PV inverters from Steca. Since then, the solar energy system has run almost without a hitch.

A team from Switzerland built the solar energy system in February 2015, with funding provided equally by FairTrade Energy (FTE) and Repic. To keep costs low, we used inverters and PV chargers from a Bulgarian manufacturer. Unfortunately, these proved unreliable in the African context, and their efficiency was inadequate. The Hoppecke battery, on the other hand, performed exceptionally well.

The system was a highlight from the start, being one of the first solar energy installations in the region. Despite the frequent power cuts in Tumu, the guesthouse still had electricity, which was a source of envy. The solar energy system is working excellently, and SILAP is planning to expand it, as the neighbouring building has a large roof. The success of renewable energy in Ghana has also inspired other Ghanaians to build their own solar systems or attend our courses.

This guesthouse serves as our base for visits and courses in Tumu. The owner is a great supporter of our work. There is a FairTrade Energy container on his property that houses our workshop, which is mainly funded by FTE. We use this workshop for our training courses on solar energy in Ghana.

The building is set back from the main road in the centre of Tumu. The dust load on the roof is low, as the building is two storeys high. However, we must clean it several times a year because the solar energy system has become a favourite place for pigeons. They carry seeds in their droppings, which germinate in the cracks and gutters and shade the solar panels.

Some locals have thrown stones at the pigeons to scare them away. Unfortunately, this was ineffective, and as a side effect, the glass on the solar panels broke. In 2023, we were able to replace the broken panels during a friendship meeting.

Every donation counts and helps us to continue our solar energy projects and reach even more people.