Ghana has begun a 1.5 megawatts (MW) peak rooftop solar installation at Terminal 3 of Tema Port, marking a step toward expanding embedded generation capacity within the terminal to 6 MW.
The project, under the auspices of Meridian Port Services (MPS), the operator of Terminal 3 at Tema Port, began construction on February 11, 2026, and is expected to be completed in November 2026.
The project follows a feasibility study completed in 2024 with support from AECOM, which identified the potential to deploy up to 6 MW of solar capacity across available rooftop space within the terminal.
According to statement from MPS, the initial 1.5 MWp installation will be fully owned and operated by the company. However, a local engineering, procurement and construction contractor, Dutch & Co, was selected through a competitive tender process to deliver the first phase.
The company said the pilot will generate operational and financial performance data to guide decisions on scaling the system to the full 6 MW capacity.
Rooftop solar to power terminal operations
The 1.5 MWp system will be installed across the rooftops of multiple buildings within Terminal 3. These include administrative offices, workshop facilities and the intrusive inspection platform.
MPS said electricity generated during peak daylight hours will directly power terminal buildings.
Surplus energy will be fed into the terminal’s internal grid to support electric terminal trucks, container-handling equipment and other electric vehicles operating within the port.
Once operational, the company estimates the installation will reduce carbon emissions by about 2,700 tonnes of CO₂ annually.
“This project represents a practical step in integrating renewable energy into our core operations,” MPS said in a statement announcing the development. “The pilot phase will allow us to assess system performance while reducing our reliance on conventional grid electricity.”
Terminal 3 is Ghana’s largest and most modern container terminal. It handles the majority of containerised cargo passing through Tema.
Renewable push builds on green investments
The solar installation follows previous investments in electric rubber-tyred gantry cranes and other electrically powered cargo-handling equipment.
The terminal has also received recognition from the Ghana chapter of the Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie France Ghana for efforts aimed at reducing operational emissions.
Meanwhile, efforts to strengthen energy planning at Ghana’s ports have involved international partners.
In 2025, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) held consultations and capacity-building workshops with port stakeholders in Tema under its sustainable smart ports initiative.
The sessions focused on energy efficiency, renewable integration and electrification pathways.
Other developments
Across West Africa, port operators have also begun incorporating renewable energy into their operations.
Similar solar projects have been implemented in the region. In 2024, the Bui Power Authority commissioned a 5 MW floating solar plant.
In Nigeria, APM Terminals’ West Africa Container Terminal at Onne has introduced solar power under a lease arrangement.”
The APM Terminals-operated West Africa Container Terminal at Onne has introduced solar power under a lease arrangement to reduce reliance on diesel generation.
MPS has not disclosed the total investment value of the Tema installation. However, the company confirmed that the system will be embedded within the terminal’s existing electrical infrastructure and operated directly by it.
Normal terminal operations will continue during construction.
Upon completion, the 1.5 MWp installation would be one of the solar systems implemented at a port terminal in West Africa. Expansion to 6 MW would depend on results from the initial phase.
