The EnerSHelF project investigated the diffusion of photovoltaic (PV) energy solutions in Ghana, with a particular focus on the health sector. The first work package (AP1) examined the institutional and technological drivers of change at national and market levels. Through a series of stakeholder interviews and a health‑facility survey, the team identified a three‑phase reform trajectory for PV adoption in Ghana: an initial demonstration and research period (1986‑2000), a scaling and institutionalisation phase (2001‑2010), and a legislative and policy consolidation phase (2011‑2022). The analysis revealed that, although isolated PV installations existed in health facilities, meaningful institutional change only emerged in recent years. Endogenous factors such as the alignment of interests among policymakers, donors, NGOs, and industry associations, and exogenous factors including global renewable energy trends, were found to reduce conflict and foster cooperation over time.
The second major technical contribution came from AP3, which developed a measurement concept and data‑management framework for assessing the electricity demand of Ghana’s health sector. Using the collected survey data, the team quantified average power requirements across a representative sample of health facilities, identifying peak demand periods and load profiles that differ markedly from national averages. Building on this, AP3 produced a suite of tools for country‑ and sector‑specific system planning and plant optimisation. These tools integrate demand forecasts with PV generation potential, battery storage sizing, and grid‑connection scenarios, enabling stakeholders to evaluate cost‑effective, resilient energy solutions tailored to local conditions.
AP4 added an interdisciplinary lens, synthesising the findings from AP1 and AP3 with insights from economics, policy, and social science. The integrative analysis highlighted the need for coordinated policy frameworks that address both technical feasibility and socio‑economic acceptance. It also underscored the importance of aligning renewable energy deployment with broader health system strengthening goals, such as improving service continuity during power outages.
Throughout the project, AP6 focused on management and coordination. The coordination team ensured that data collection, analysis, and dissemination activities remained on schedule, despite delays caused by the COVID‑19 pandemic. The team also facilitated knowledge exchange between German and Ghanaian partners, organising workshops and briefing sessions that kept all stakeholders informed of progress and emerging insights.
Collaboration was central to the project’s success. The consortium comprised German research institutions, Ghanaian universities, local NGOs, industry associations, and donor agencies. The lead partners coordinated the research design, while regional partners managed fieldwork and data collection. The project ran from 2020 to 2023, with the initial data collection phase extended due to pandemic restrictions. Funding was provided through a German research grant, supporting personnel, travel, and analytical resources.
The project’s outputs include two publications: a policy brief summarising the survey findings and a written analysis of the data. A peer‑reviewed journal article is slated for submission in 2023. In addition, the consortium produced a comprehensive data‑management plan and a set of decision‑support tools that are now available to policymakers and practitioners in Ghana. These contributions provide a robust evidence base for scaling PV solutions in the health sector, ensuring that renewable energy deployment is both technically sound and socially acceptable.