Ghana will soon introduce a new regulatory framework to govern the location and operation of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in a proactive move to protect the national power grid from systemic overload, President John Dramani Mahama has announced.
Speaking at the commissioning of the Zonda Tec Ghana vehicle assembly plant in Tema on Tuesday, September 15, the President said the number of charging facilities was beginning to grow without a sufficiently clear national roadmap.
“A few people have started establishing charging stations. If this is not regulated, it could lead to imbalances in our energy system,” he said.
The Ministry of Energy and Green Transition is developing an electric vehicle policy that will be submitted to Cabinet for consideration.
Location of chargers to face scrutiny
President Mahama said authorities must consider the capacity of nearby transformers and substations before approving clusters of charging stations.
“Because if we put too many charging stations in one place without taking note of the transformer and the substation that feeds those charging stations, it can imbalance the electricity supply in that area.” - President Mahama
Electric vehicle chargers can create significant local demand, particularly when several high-capacity units operate simultaneously. The concern is not necessarily a shortage across the entire national grid, but the possibility of overloading particular distribution assets.
Ghana’s Energy Commission already requires individuals and businesses to obtain approval before installing or operating public charging stations and battery-swap systems. Its existing directive covers technical, safety and operational standards.
The proposed policy is expected to provide a wider roadmap, including rules on where chargers can be located and how new facilities should connect to the electricity network.
Solar charging forms part of plan
President Mahama said the government also wanted to promote solar-powered charging as Ghana’s electric vehicle market develops.
Solar systems could reduce the amount of electricity charging stations draw from the grid, particularly during daylight hours. Their usefulness would still depend on installation capacity, storage and the charging demand at each site.
For prospective operators, the message is becoming plain. Charging stations will be welcomed, but their location and power requirements cannot be treated as an afterthought.
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