By: Energy capital & power

The Energy Commission of Ghana has inaugurated West Africa’s first nearly-zero-energy building (NZEB) in Accra.

The €1 million project was funded by the German Government and supported by German development agency GIZ. The facility generates 88% of its electricity from solar power, with provisions to export surplus energy to the national grid once net metering becomes fully operational.

Built primarily with locally sourced materials, the NZEB limits imports to air conditioners and lighting. It aligns with Ghana’s target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 and demonstrates the application of renewable energy in construction.

The facility will also host an Energy Academy to provide training for future energy professionals. The project is an important step in Ghana’s renewable energy agenda, opening the way for sustainable practices in the building sector.

Tangmor Marmor, Cluster Co-coordinator, GIZ, said, “We are not only making the Energy Commission stronger, but also we want to strengthen the entire energy sector and the building sector.”