Despite a promising wind potential especially along the coast, wind power is not being used for economic activities in Ghana.

To prove the economic viability of wind water pumping, the Energy Foundation has erected a wind pump on the coastline of the Volta Region. Satellite wind data show, that the region along the Keta Lagoon has the highest wind potential in Ghana.

The wind pump has a rotor diameter of 1.60 m at a height of 4.50 m. Water is pumped into a storage tank and released through a drip irrigation system. Water output is monitored through a water meter. See details.

The present experiences show that the pump has a capacity to irrigate an area of up to 1 acre. The capacity depends on the type of vegetable and on the season. Wind measurements at the coastline east of Accra have proven that the monthly average wind speed at a height of 5 m varies between 4.2 m/s (in December/January) and 5.8 m/s (in September/October). The wind pump operates at wind speeds between 3 and 10 m/s. The availability of sufficient wind is about 85 %. Considering that, it is estimated that the pumping performance varies between 7 m³/day (in December/January) and 12 m³/day (in September/ October). The estimated annual pumping performance is around 3600 m³.

Traditionally irrigation is done in this region manually or as sprinkler irrigation by electric or diesel pumps. Our first analysis shows that irrigation by wind pump is clearly cheaper than human labour and diesel pumping. However, when the electric grid is available at the field, with the present price for electricity an investment in a wind pump would not be competitive.

Energy Foundation will keep monitoring the performance of the pump and regularly share it's experience on this website. Interested farmers are welcome to contact us.