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The Climate Investment Funds (CIF) unanimously endorsed Ghana’s ambitious investment plan to transform its renewable energy sector.

The plan, which is slated to receive $40 million in funding from the CIF’s Program for Scaling Up Renewable Energy Program (SREP), is structured around four key projects: renewable energy mini-grids and stand-alone solar PV systems; solar PV-based net metering with storage; utility-scale solar PV/wind power generation; and a technical assistance project.

Addressing the press after the event, Deputy Minister for Power Hon Jinapor who also led the Ghanaian delegation said that Ghana is committed to drawing on its wealth of renewable resources to build a sustainable energy sector, and has already adopted a set of policy targets drawing on those resources, including universal access to electricity by 2016 and a 10% contribution of renewables in the electricity generation mix by 2020.

The infusion of SREP funding, along with $53.5 million support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and financing from other partners, will help the country scale up and leverage private and public financial resources to build the country’s renewables sector and carry out the innovative set of projects.

“We are very pleased to receive this important endorsement from SREP,” stated Deputy Minister, adding, “The potential we see in this plan for scaling-up the country’s renewable energy development is enormous, not only because of the funding to be provided, but because it will help increase investor confidence, reduce regulatory, institutional and contractual barriers, and provide needed technical support and capacity, and ultimately help Ghana’s citizens to sustainably access climate-friendly energy.”

The SREP investment plan is Ghana’s second investment plan under the CIF. The country also has an active portfolio under the CIF’s Forest Investment Program (FIP) – one of a handful of countries with plans in several sectors --and the SREP decision allows the country to exponentially expand its landscape of climate-smart development overall.