An Assessment of the Electrical Energy Needs of Beauty Saloon Industry in Ghana

Abstract

Insufficient and irregular power supply in Ghana has been a matter of concern to all. This situation runs through all industrial, commercial and domestic sectors of the Ghanaian economy, posing much challenge to the economic growth. This study considers the Beauty Salon industry which is one important but neglected industry which depends mostly on power for all its activities, and also consumes a lot of energy. In the beauty salon industry, about 73% of the work force is women which falls under the hairdressing with the remaining being barbers. The research shows that, about 96% of their business operations depend on the National Electric grid. Finding an alternative means to provide electrical power source is of much significance. Notwithstanding this, the total average income of GH₵8,443, expenditure of GH₵3,488 and GH₵1,951 being the expenditure of light provision in the absence of national grid. Aside this, the cost of electricity bills keeps raising making the industry being under critical condition to stay in business. Therefore the study identifies various tools and equipment used in the industry and their power ratings to propose a possible design of photovoltaic (PV) system for the industry. This study proposes a 2.8KW Stand-alone Photovoltaic System to help solve the problem of entrepreneurs in the Beauty Salon industry. In view of this study, it can be recommended that, this PV can be implemented to promote it use in the Beauty Salon industry by the Ghana government and other donor agencies to sustain the burden on the industry. Also the study identifies the need for education of power management as most entrepreneurs in the Beauty industry have little knowledge on it.