UENR launches Ghana Battery Network; urges a move beyond battery imports

The University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) has called for a strategic shift in Ghana’s battery industry towards local value addition, research, skills development and manufacturing to maximise opportunities presented by the global energy transition.

The call was made on behalf of UENR Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof. Elvis Asare-Bediako, by the Dean of the School of Engineering, Prof. Emmanuel Kwasi Nyantakyi, at the launch of the Ghana Battery Network (GBN), held under the theme, “Advancing Ghana’s Battery Ecosystem through Collaboration, Innovation and Sustainable Local Value Creation.”

The GBN is an initiative of UENR’s Regional Centre for Energy and Environmental Sustainability (RCEES), supported by the Faraday Institute.

Prof. Asare-Bediako said Ghana must move beyond adopting imported battery technologies to building the expertise, institutions and industrial partnerships needed to participate meaningfully in the global battery economy.

“Our ambition should go beyond being consumers of imported battery technologies. We should aspire to become producers of knowledge, developers of solutions, participants in manufacturing and value addition, and leaders in sustainable battery management within Africa,” the statement said.

The launch comes amid rising global demand for battery technologies driven by renewable energy expansion, electric mobility and the transition to low-carbon economies.

For Ghana, this presents opportunities to leverage its renewable energy potential and position itself within emerging critical minerals and energy-storage value chains.

However, the VC cautioned that natural resource ownership and technology adoption alone would not guarantee sustainable economic gains.

“We must develop the knowledge, skills, policies, standards, institutions, industries and partnerships required to derive lasting value from the battery economy,” he emphasised.

The GBN is expected to bring together universities, industries, government agencies, regulators, financial institutions and other stakeholders to coordinate research, share expertise and develop practical solutions to sector challenges.

Prof. Asare-Bediako stressed that collaboration was essential to building a viable battery ecosystem, noting that no single institution could independently provide the expertise, investment, policy support and infrastructure needed for the sector to thrive.

He urged government to establish an enabling policy and regulatory environment, industry to drive investment and commercialisation, and universities to strengthen research capacity and develop the skilled workforce required for industrial growth.

“Universities must not only publish research; we must ensure that knowledge contributes to policy, industry, innovation and national development,” he noted.

The VC commended RCEES and other stakeholders for their contributions to establishing the Network, reaffirming UENR’s commitment to supporting the initiative and collaborating with partners to advance Ghana’s battery and energy-storage agenda.

The Director of RCEES, Prof. Samuel Gyamfi, also underscored the importance of stakeholder collaboration in developing the country’s battery ecosystem.

He said the Network would provide a platform for researchers, policymakers, industry players and investors to build partnerships and address challenges across the battery value chain.

“Our theme highlights the need for collective action to strengthen Ghana’s battery sector,” Prof. Gyamfi stated.

He noted that batteries were increasingly important for renewable energy integration, energy storage and electric mobility, making strategic partnerships essential to Ghana’s energy transition.

Prof. Gyamfi expressed hope that the Network would translate discussions into tangible outcomes that support innovation, industrial development and local value addition.