This paper investigates the transition of traditional electricity transmission systems into modern, low-carbon network essential for mitigating climate change and ensuring energy sustainability. The electricity sector remains a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, making transmission modernization critical for large-scale integration of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydro. This study proposes a comprehensive carbon-aware control framework that integrates smart grid technologies, energy storage systems, and dynamic optimization models to enhance grid efficiency, reliability, and emissions performance. Using Ghana's power system as a case study, the research develops a MATLAB-based simulation of a 10-bus transmission network incorporating real-world generation data, load forecasting, and geographical analysis of renewable potential. Results indicate that integrating renewable energy with energy storage can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 50%, from 238,000 kg to 119,000 kg, though economic viability remains challenging without policy support, subsidies, or carbon credits. The simulation also highlights the role of energy storage in smoothing intermittent generation and maintaining system stability. Financial analysis and load growth projections reinforce the need for scalable investment models and regulatory reforms to support long-term de-carbonization. The proposed framework bridges the gap between emissions metrics and grid operations, offering a robust tool for policy makers, utilities, and researchers. The findings demonstrate that a low-carbon grid is both technically feasible and environmentally necessary for a sustainable energy future.
| Published in | Journal of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Volume 14, Issue 1) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.jeee.20261401.12 |
| Page(s) | 9-20 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Low-Carbon Grid, Smart Grid, Renewable Energy Integration, Energy Storage, Power Transmission, Carbon-Aware Control, Ghana Power System
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APA Style
Owusu-Nyarko, I., Okpoti, F. K., Mbeah, A. K., Afun, G. P. (2026). Toward a Greener Grid: Enabling Low-Carbon Electricity in Transmission Systems. Journal of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, 14(1), 9-20. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeee.20261401.12
ACS Style
Owusu-Nyarko, I.; Okpoti, F. K.; Mbeah, A. K.; Afun, G. P. Toward a Greener Grid: Enabling Low-Carbon Electricity in Transmission Systems. J. Electr. Electron. Eng. 2026, 14(1), 9-20. doi: 10.11648/j.jeee.20261401.12
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Download@article{10.11648/j.jeee.20261401.12,
author = {Isaac Owusu-Nyarko and Felix Koney Okpoti and Augustine Kweku Mbeah and Gifty Pamela Afun},
title = {Toward a Greener Grid: Enabling Low-Carbon Electricity in Transmission Systems},
journal = {Journal of Electrical and Electronic Engineering},
volume = {14},
number = {1},
pages = {9-20},
doi = {10.11648/j.jeee.20261401.12},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeee.20261401.12},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jeee.20261401.12},
abstract = {This paper investigates the transition of traditional electricity transmission systems into modern, low-carbon network essential for mitigating climate change and ensuring energy sustainability. The electricity sector remains a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, making transmission modernization critical for large-scale integration of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydro. This study proposes a comprehensive carbon-aware control framework that integrates smart grid technologies, energy storage systems, and dynamic optimization models to enhance grid efficiency, reliability, and emissions performance. Using Ghana's power system as a case study, the research develops a MATLAB-based simulation of a 10-bus transmission network incorporating real-world generation data, load forecasting, and geographical analysis of renewable potential. Results indicate that integrating renewable energy with energy storage can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 50%, from 238,000 kg to 119,000 kg, though economic viability remains challenging without policy support, subsidies, or carbon credits. The simulation also highlights the role of energy storage in smoothing intermittent generation and maintaining system stability. Financial analysis and load growth projections reinforce the need for scalable investment models and regulatory reforms to support long-term de-carbonization. The proposed framework bridges the gap between emissions metrics and grid operations, offering a robust tool for policy makers, utilities, and researchers. The findings demonstrate that a low-carbon grid is both technically feasible and environmentally necessary for a sustainable energy future.},
year = {2026}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Toward a Greener Grid: Enabling Low-Carbon Electricity in Transmission Systems AU - Isaac Owusu-Nyarko AU - Felix Koney Okpoti AU - Augustine Kweku Mbeah AU - Gifty Pamela Afun Y1 - 2026/01/19 PY - 2026 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeee.20261401.12 DO - 10.11648/j.jeee.20261401.12 T2 - Journal of Electrical and Electronic Engineering JF - Journal of Electrical and Electronic Engineering JO - Journal of Electrical and Electronic Engineering SP - 9 EP - 20 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2329-1605 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeee.20261401.12 AB - This paper investigates the transition of traditional electricity transmission systems into modern, low-carbon network essential for mitigating climate change and ensuring energy sustainability. The electricity sector remains a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, making transmission modernization critical for large-scale integration of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydro. This study proposes a comprehensive carbon-aware control framework that integrates smart grid technologies, energy storage systems, and dynamic optimization models to enhance grid efficiency, reliability, and emissions performance. Using Ghana's power system as a case study, the research develops a MATLAB-based simulation of a 10-bus transmission network incorporating real-world generation data, load forecasting, and geographical analysis of renewable potential. Results indicate that integrating renewable energy with energy storage can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 50%, from 238,000 kg to 119,000 kg, though economic viability remains challenging without policy support, subsidies, or carbon credits. The simulation also highlights the role of energy storage in smoothing intermittent generation and maintaining system stability. Financial analysis and load growth projections reinforce the need for scalable investment models and regulatory reforms to support long-term de-carbonization. The proposed framework bridges the gap between emissions metrics and grid operations, offering a robust tool for policy makers, utilities, and researchers. The findings demonstrate that a low-carbon grid is both technically feasible and environmentally necessary for a sustainable energy future. VL - 14 IS - 1 ER -
Department of Electrical/Electronic, Regional Maritime University, Accra, Ghana
Department of Electrical/Electronic, Regional Maritime University, Accra, Ghana
Department of Electrical/Electronic, Regional Maritime University, Accra, Ghana
College of Engineering Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
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