Roundtable with GridCo, Ghana’s national transmission system operator

In Ghana, only 2% of grid-connected capacity comes from variable renewable energy sources (VRES), reflecting challenges within the country’s energy sector. The FCDO-funded Green Cities and Infrastructure Programme (GCIP) Energy Workstream collaborates with key stakeholders to address these challenges. As part of this effort, GCIP delivery partners are facilitating a study tour for a delegation of technical specialists from Ghana’s national transmission system operator, GridCo, to the UK.

This roundtable will allow UK organisations to share technical expertise with GridCo representatives through case studies offering insights into innovative solutions and strategies for decarbonised energy systems.

We will focus on power system planning topics, including strategies for transmission and generation planning, advanced forecasting techniques, and grid studies. Discussions will explore compliance standards, grid stability challenges, flexible generation, energy storage solutions, and emerging technologies like AI, hydrogen, and Power-to-X for renewable energy integration.

In addition, the delegation will engage with UK experts on electricity market operations, covering market design, capacity and energy markets, ancillary services, and settlement processes. Key themes include competitive renewable energy procurement, climate resilience in high-voltage grids, and strategies for separating system operations from the wires business. Participants will also examine the role of power plants in frequency control, the management of bilateral power purchase agreements, and approaches to billing and settlement.

Finally, on infrastructure and asset management, the delegation will explore approaches to managing transmission assets, prioritising upgrades, and preparing the grid for increased renewable energy generation, including offshore wind and solar. Additional topics include smart grid technologies, balancing infrastructure investments with affordability, the role of public-private partnerships, and addressing challenges like right-of-way acquisition and vegetation control.