Abstract:
The uneven distribution of fossil fuels and other energy resources, which most
economies currently rely on, generates many questions as to whether the current
energy transition targets can meet future energy demands. Despite Ghana’s
endowment in rich energy resources, the economy still encounters significant
challenges in achieving universal access to sustainable, affordable, modern, and
reliable energy services. There is no clear understanding regarding the potential
impact of transitioning to modern energy services on final energy demand of
Ghana. Using 2019 as the base year, the study modelled the effects of adopting
modern energy services and technologies on final energy demand in Ghana. The
study used cross-sectional data from 2019 and developed scenarios to forecast
future energy demand of Ghana. The Model for Analysis of Energy Demand
(MAED-2) was used to project the future final energy demand from 2019 to
2070. The findings indicated a high surge in total future final energy demand
across all scenarios. The study revealed that while penetration of modern ES is
more efficient, their adoption can lead to high overall energy consumption and
energy per capita due to greater convenience and higher usage rates. The study
recommends that energy efficiency technologies must be complemented with
attitudinal change to prevent the rebound effect from efficiency measures.