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David Ato Quansah

Mechanical Engineering

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About

David is currently Director of The Brew-Hammond Energy Centre at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) where he leads a multidisciplinary network of Fellows drawn from various Colleges of the University and beyond to work on energy and sustainability challenges confronting Ghana and Africa at large.He is an Associate Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering where he teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Sustainable and Alternate Energy Systems, Renewable Energy Project Analysis, Solar PV Technologies and other basic engineering courses. He has over 15 years of experience in research, consulting and teaching in renewable energy (RE) technologies, energy policy analysis and financial modelling of energy projects. He is currently the National Contact Point (NCP) for Ghana on the EU research and innovation programme, Horizon 2020, in the thematic area of Secure, Clean and Efficient energy, in which position he serves as liaison between the Horizon 2020 programme and researchers in Ghana.He previously coordinated the Master of Science Programme in Renewable Energy Technologies (MSc RETs) at KNUST and was also responsible (2009 – 2015) for short courses at the Brew-Hammond Energy Centre; during which participants from more than 20 African countries were trained in Solar PV design and installation, design and construction of biogas systems, RE Project Analysis, among others.David holds a PhD (Renewable Energy Specialization) from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) where he researched performance degradation in solar photovoltaic modules. He had earlier obtained a Master of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering (Thermo-fluids and Energy Systems) from KNUST and another Masters Degree in Energy Engineering from the Institute International d’Ingenierie de l’Eau et de l’Environment (2iE) in Ouagadougou. He is a certified expert in Climate and Renewable Energy Finance and also holds a number of professional development certifications in low-carbon development strategies and sustainable energy transitions.  He is a member of the International Solar Energy Society (ISES), the Ghana Science Association and a Member of the Ghana Institution of Engineers (GhIE).Email: daquansah.coe@knust.edu.gh, david.ato.quansah@gmail.com.

Research Summary

(inferred from publications by AI)

The researcher has conducted extensive work in photovoltaic system optimization techniques, exploring methods for improving efficiency and reliability. They have also investigated hybrid renewable energy systems, investigating their economic implications and environmental impact. Their studies on solar thermal systems highlight advancements in performance analysis. The researcher integrates climate effects into energy planning, focusing on solar radiation and its role in sustainability. Advanced control strategies for grids are explored, while they assess the technical feasibility of smart grid integration. They examine the resilience of energy systems to various disruptions and analyze investment opportunities through case studies. Their work also covers microgrid optimization and evaluates working capital impacts. The researcher designs adaptive control systems and explores circular economy models, focusing on waste management in higher education. They study fuel-cell pumps for agriculture and assess photovoltaic-based renewable irrigation. Their research integrates policy considerations into energy planning and considers atmospheric gas dynamics.

Research Themes

All Papers

Performance analysis of different grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) system technologies with combined capacity of 20 kW located in humid tropical climate(2017)
Ageing and degradation in solar photovoltaic modules installed in northern Ghana(2018)
Investigation of Solar Photovoltaic-Thermal (PVT) and Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Performance: A Case Study in Ghana(2020)
Reliability and Degradation of Solar PV Modules—Case Study of 19-Year-Old Polycrystalline Modules in Ghana(2017)
Assessment of early degradation and performance loss in five co-located solar photovoltaic module technologies installed in Ghana using performance ratio time-series regression(2018)
Comparative study of performance degradation in poly- and mono-crystalline-Si solar PV modules deployed in different applications(2018)
Degradation and longevity of solar photovoltaic modules—An analysis of recent field studies in Ghana(2020)
Multi‐pronged degradation analysis of a photovoltaic power plant after 9.5 years of operation under hot desert climatic conditions(2023)
Systematic literature review on the potential of using solar photovoltaic to power sea water desalination on offshore petroleum facilities(2024)
Economic assessment of a-Si and CIS thin film solar PV technologies in Ghana(2016)
Reliability and Degradation of Solar PV Modules—Case Study of 19-Year Old Polycrystalline Modules in Ghana(2017)
Optimal placement and upgrade of solar PV integration in a grid-connected solar photovoltaic system(2024)
Reliability and Degradation of Solar PV Modules—Case Study of a 19-Year Old Polycrystalline Modules in Ghana(2017)
Performance degradation studies on field-aged solar photovoltaic modules(2018)
Preliminary Assessment of Degradation in Field-Aged Multi-Crystalline Silicon PV Modules Installed in Hot-Humid Climate of Mid Ghana(2016)
Multipurpose renewable energy resources based hybrid energy system for remote community in northern Ghana(2017)
TECHNO-ECONOMICS OF SOLAR PV-DIESEL HYBRID POWER SYSTEMS FOR OFF-GRID OUTDOOR BASE TRANSCEIVER STATIONS IN GHANA(2017)
Ex-post design, operations and financial cost-benefit analysis of mini-grids in Ghana: What can we learn?(2022)
Investigation of hybrid power-to-hydrogen/natural gas and hydrogen-to-X system in Cameroon(2024)
Global status and prospects for hybrid hydrogen-natural gas systems for power plants in Sub-Saharan Africa(2024)
Systematic Literature Review of Hydrogen Production Technologies, Feedstocks and Pathways, and Its Prospects in Sub-Saharan Africa(2025)
Study effect of flow rate on flat-plate water-based photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) system performance by analytical technique(2021)
Techno-economic analysis of solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar photovoltaic thermal (PVT) systems using exergy analysis(2021)
Towards accelerating the deployment of decentralised renewable energy mini-grids in Ghana: Review and analysis of barriers(2020)
Solar Photovoltaics in Sub-Saharan Africa – Addressing Barriers, Unlocking Potential(2016)
Assessing the impact of hydro energy project on poverty alleviation: The case of Bui Dam in Ghana(2022)
Strategizing towards sustainable energy planning: Modeling the mix of future generation technologies for 2050 in Benin(2024)
Long-term energy demand modeling and optimal evaluation of solutions to renewable energy deployment barriers in Benin: A LEAP-MCDM approach(2024)
Techno-economic assessment of hydrogen production in Ghana through PV electrolysis and biomass gasification(2024)
Renewable energy in Benin: current situation and future prospects(2023)
Cost-competitiveness of distributed grid-connected solar photovoltaics in Ghana: case study of a 4 kWp polycrystalline system(2017)
An Assessment of Grid-Charged Inverter-Battery Systems for Domestic Applications in Ghana(2016)
Strategizing Towards Sustainable Energy Planning: Achieving 50% Renewable Energy Share in Benin's Energy Mix by 2050(2023)
Predicting Future Energy Demand in Benin Republic Using the Low Emissions Analysis Platform(2023)
Techno-Economic and Environmental Analysis of Solar Pv-Assisted Electric Cooking in Sub-Saharan Africa(2024)
Beyond cost: Unpacking the techno-economic, institutional, and social dynamics of solar PV adoption in Ghana’s commercial sector(2025)
Towards zero vehicle emissions in Africa: A case study of Ghana(2020)
Energy planning and modeling tools for sustainable development: A systematic literature review(2023)
Comparison of ground-based and floating solar photovoltaic systems performance based on monofacial and bifacial modules in Ghana(2023)
Predicting the Potential Energy Yield of Bifacial Solar PV Systems in Low-Latitude Region(2022)
Improving solar photovoltaic installation energy yield using bifacial modules and tracking systems: An analytical approach(2022)
Performance evaluation of bifacial solar PV modules under different climatic regions in Nigeria(2022)
Site adaptation of NASA-POWER reanalysis solar radiation products for tropical climates in Ghana using bias correction for clean energy application(2024)
Evaluation of time lag and decrement factor of walls in a hot humid tropical climate(2020)
A systematic literature review of the bifacial photovoltaic module and its applications(2024)
On cloud-based systems and distributed platforms for smart grid integration: Challenges and prospects for Ghana's Grid Network(2021)
Analyzing the consequences of power factor degradation in grid-connected solar photovoltaic systems(2024)
Estimating the carbon footprint of Ethiopian higher education institutions: A case study of Debre Markos University(2025)
Toward a circular economy in Ghana’s renewable energy sector: A quantitative assessment of waste from solar photovoltaic modules in Ghana(2025)
Design, Simulation, and Economic Analysis of a Solar Photovoltaic‐Powered Pumping System for Drip Irrigation of a 1‐ha Bean Farm in a Tropical Climate(2025)
The Functional Characteristics of the Global Integrative Model – From a Convergence Program toward an Integrative Symmetry(2015)
A Comparison of Levelised Cost of Energy of Different Energy Sources for Irrigated Shallot Farming in Some Coastal Regions of Ghana(2024)
Probabilistic Assessment of Carbon Intensity in Selected Oil and Gas Fields in Ghana(2025)

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About This Profile

This profile is generated from publicly available publication metadata and is intended for research discovery purposes. Themes, summaries, and trajectories are inferred computationally and may not capture the full scope of the lecturer's work. For authoritative information, please refer to the official KNUST profile.