The Cop29 summit is held between world nations who are committed to reducing their carbon footprint. This year, at the meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan, many of them signed up to an energy transition agreement, including Uganda. Contact online >>
The Cop29 summit is held between world nations who are committed to reducing their carbon footprint. This year, at the meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan, many of them signed up to an energy transition agreement, including Uganda.
Uganda''s plan is a new one and has come into fruition after many years of research and funding, but not many people know what the country has committed to as it starts the energy transition process.
This article aims to answer that question and shed some light on how the energy transition deal could help the fight against climate change.
The world’s reliance on fossil fuels remains stubbornly high. Despite a record year for renewable energy, global fossil fuel consumption reached a new peak in 2023, according to a recent Energy Institute report.
What''s more, recent studies have found that even various online activities need a lot of energy to fulfil, regardless of the location. Cryptocurrency mining is one famous example, with miners using on average 40 kWh per week. Even seemingly minor activities, like visiting an online casino, needs the use of data centers which have also been found to consume huge amounts of energy.
It''s prompted some developing countries to reassess their output, with Uganda being one of them. The East African nation, with its rich renewable energy potential and growing energy demand, confirmed at Cop29 that it''s charting a course towards a greener future.
Uganda’s recent strides in the energy sector are nothing short of remarkable.
The commissioning of the Karuma Hydropower Plant, along with the existing Isimba Hydropower Plant, has dramatically grown the country’s electricity generation capacity. Not only does this surge illuminate Ugandan homes but it also positions the nation as a regional energy hub.
The vision is clear: to not just provide enough energy for itself, but to export surplus electricity to neighboring countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and Rwanda.
The Ugandan government plans to use the East African Power Pool, a cross-country energy-sharing initiative, to solve energy poverty in the region and stimulate economic growth among its members.A gas-powered transition
Renewable energy is the cornerstone of Uganda’s energy future, but the country is also exploring the potential of its natural gas reserves.
This revolves around converting associated gas into Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). In doing so, Uganda expects to reduce its reliance on traditional fuels like charcoal and firewood: both substances that add to deforestation and air pollution.
The cost, however, is a big issue. Uganda is looking for partnerships with international investors to fund an LPG production facility, but this is a tough political act to carry out.A balancing act
Uganda’s energy transition comes with other likely challenges. The country must balance between meeting the energy needs of its growing population and reducing its carbon footprint.
Expanding access to electricity is crucial for economic development and social progress, but it must be done sustainably.
The government’s scientists and transport experts have mapped out the Energy Transition Plan, a blueprint based on smart strategies and emissions reporting. If successful, it leads the way to a low-carbon future.
If it can get this balancing act, Uganda can both achieve its climate goals and deliver energy security for its citizens, not to mention the benefits for its neighbors and the world at large.The expected timescale
To make its energy transition a reality, Uganda’s plan outlines a long-term vision for the country’s energy sector, via specific targets and milestones for the coming decades. These include universal access to electricity and big progress in clean cooking solutions by 2030; a modernized and diversified energy mix, with a significant increase in renewable energy generation 20 years after that, and finally net-zero emissions by 2065.
It’s important to note that the specific timeline for achieving these goals may vary depending on various factors, including technological advancements, investment availability, and policy implementation. However, the plan is the most accurate statement we have so far for the Uganda''s transition.
Uganda’s commitment to a sustainable energy future could inspire other countries to follow suit. Promoting energy efficiency and investing in clean technologies is harder for African countries than those in the West, but Uganda’s journey serves as a model for developing economies over the next few years.
Green People''s Energy aims to improve the conditions for decentralised energy supply in rural areas in selected African countries, through the involvement of citizens and companies. To this end, we are working primarily in nine countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including Uganda. In addition to our country-based measures, we support cross-national charitable projects and strengthen partnerships between players in Europe and Africa.
In Uganda, Green People’s Energy will, among other things, introduce practice-oriented curricula with a focus on renewable energies at three training centres; train 25 teachers and 150 renewable energy specialists; support 80 businesses to use decentralised renewable energies; and convince 100 social institutions to purchase decentralised renewable energy systems with our support.
… around 29.2 million people, which is more than 72% of the population in Uganda, have no access to electricity?
… off-grid systems such as island grids, solar lanterns or solar home systems are the most cost-efficient access solution for over 30% of the population?
To achieve results faster, we rely on the successful approaches and implementation structures of existing projects. In Uganda, the country project of Green People''s Energy implements its activities in close cooperation with the country measure of the Energising Development (EnDev) global programme in particular, as well as other bilateral projects in the energy sector. The advantage of this approach is that we can draw on the many years of experience of these projects'' teams and thus implement our approaches quickly.
To ensure that these approaches are effective in Uganda, we have adapted them to local conditions following an analysis of the country. One aim of this analysis was also to design the project activities of Green People''s Energy for Africa in such a way that the offers are gender sensitive.
In Uganda, more than 17,500 primary schools operate. But many are located off the main power grid. Consequently, few primary schools have been electrified.
In November 2019, Green People’s Energy Uganda signed a contract with SoloGrid as an outcome of a tender process to increase electricity access for primary schools. SoloGrid distributes high quality Solar Home Systems (SHS), which are almost maintenance free and have a long life span due to the use of modern lithium-ion battery packs. The SoloGrid SHS can be used for lighting of class rooms, charging of mobile phones and operating energy-efficient ICT (information and communication technologies).
As part of an advertising campaign, the company is targeting schools, and advising and training school staff and representatives of the parent-teacher associations on Solar Home Systems (SHS). The aim is to convince them of the benefits of SHS.
To enable potential users that they can afford these systems, SoloGrid offers various financing options. Schools can pay for the slightly subsidized SHS in instalments through partner banks, which are supplied with low-interest loans from the capitalisation company of the Ugandan Ministry of Energy. Alternatively, schools can use a Pay-As-You-Go model.
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