Impact of climate change and variability on hydropower in Ghana

Abstract

Ghana continues to rely heavily on hydropower for her electricity needs. This hydropower reliance cannot ensure sustainable development since there is a strong association between hydropower production and climate variability and change including ENSO-related lake water levels reduction. Using regression analysis this study found that rainfall variability accounted for 21% of the inter-annual fluctuations in power generation from the Akosombo Hydroelectric power station between 1970 and 1990 while ENSO and lake water level accounted for 72.4% of the inter-annual fluctuations between 1991 and 2010. There is therefore the need to diversify power production to attain energy security in Ghana.