By Edzorna Francis Mensah
Players in waste-to-energy management have called on the government and other stakeholders to invest in Sustainable Technologies by drafting the appropriate regulation backed by policy support for the industries to lead the change of a transformative role in Ghana’s sustainable development.
The players said the industry can advance the waste-to-energy (WtE) convention in Ghana when the government adopts Public-Private Partnership strategies and creates new markets for WtE byproducts which has the capacity to reduce environmental impact and promote a circular economy.
Presenting a paper on the topic: “Waste to Energy Conversion in Ghana:
The Role of Industry”, at just ended one-day workshop 19th Biennial Workshop by Ghana Science Association at Sunyani in the Bono Region, on the theme: Innovative, Affordable and Sustainable Energy Supply in Ghana for the 4th Industrial revolution, the General Manager Safisana Ghana Ltd, Elikplim Asilevi noted that, by integrating WtE technologies, such as those employed by Safisana, into their energy and resource management strategies, Ghanaian industries can reduce carbon footprint and promote a circular economy which will serve as a long-term energy security for the country.
Speaking on Global Waste-to-Energy Success Stories using same countries, Mr. Asilevi says, Sweden currently converts over 50% of household waste into energy and imports waste from neighboring countries to fuel plants as he pointed that, key to this success story grounded on “public-private partnerships, government incentives, and strict environmental regulations ensuring smooth collaboration among industries, municipalities, and waste management firms”.
He also said, “Kenya’s first grid-connected biogas plant in Naivasha showcases how African nations can harness WtE technology. Producing 2.2 MW of power, providing biogas as a renewable energy source for industries and communities”.
Currently, Safisana collects faecal sludge from the public toilets in the community and organic waste from food markets, abattoirs and the local food processing industries at the Safisana recycling plant.
And, through a natural process of anaerobic digestion and fermentation, organic and faecal sludge is transformed into biogas. This renewable energy is subsequently used to produce power to feed the national electricity grid.
The residue from the digester is further used and composted into a nutrient-rich organic fertilizer. Wastewater is further treated in water ponds and used as irrigation water by local farmers. Through the reuse and recovery of resources, we strengthen the local production chain.
Turning waste into value, Safisana has developed a circular and financially-affordable business model for governments, utilities and food processing industries, that combines faecal sludge and organic waste treatment with the production of renewable energy, nutrients and water.
It hopes to become the standardized waste-to-resource solution in low and middle-income countries. By building and operating a large number of locally embedded recycling plants.