In recent months, Uganda has been experiencing sharp increases in fuel and power costs. 
Demand for energy needs has been on the rise and this has made electricity costs to skyrocket. Matters almost went to the dogs with an acute shortage of fuel, not only with last year’s post-poll crisis in the neighbouring Kenya but also at the beginning of this year.
Despite the prices of crude oil dropping to a record low of US$ 36 per barrel, production and transportation costs have kept the prices high.
However, in the face of such challenges, there’s a gigantic potential of untapped solar energy in Uganda, which most of the Western European countries like Germany and Denmark, have exploited to meet the energy needs of their economies and populations. This solar energy, once tapped and put into effective use in Uganda could be a classic blessing, not just in cutting down consumption costs and maintaining a healthy environment, but also in creating wealth through commercial ventures and more jobs.
Solar energy is in its neophyte stage in Uganda. Where it has been proliferated, substantial progress in terms of welfare of the community members who have access to it has been noted as it is making a big difference and gradually transforming lives.
Speaking in a conference at the department of Food Science and Technology in Makerere University on Thursday, Dr. Maegaard Preben, the Director of Folkecenter for renewable
energy in Denmark noted that the effective use of solar energy reduces power consumption by 65 percent. He explored the need for developing countries like Uganda to tap the sun as a renewable source of solar energy, which would last for as long as 5 billion years. His assertion cannot be more correct as the experience here in Uganda is a testimony to the benefit of investing in solar energy.
Such renewable energy has tremendously reduced expenses in households where other forms of energy like electricity, and petroleum and wood fuel are expensive, as Santore Alekua, the LC III of Ajia Sub-county in Arua district attested.
“One electricity pole is about Ushs1.5 million and purchasing poles to cover 8km is too much.” He added that the community members, especially in the rural locations of Arua district can’t think of extension lines, leave alone purchasing even one pole. Even people staying in towns are contemplating adopting the use of solar energy as an alternative source of cheaper energy.
The adoption of solar energy especially in rural areas that can’t access electricity is beneficial in more ways than one. In such areas as Arua, Tororo, Luwero, Mukono and Kampala, it is being used in cell phone charging, charging batteries and cells for radio and torches, lighting up homes and even powering radio and television sets. This is far much cheaper than meeting the increasing costs of electricity and fuel.
Besides, the commercial viability of solar energy is of the essence to such groups as Ajia Trading Centre Community Project, in Arua, which has about 15 members who have solar panels they use for their commercial engagements. The solar panels, donated by (JEEP) Joint Energy and Environment Projects, power the fridge for the community’s health centre. Some members of the community project in Ajia Sub-county now charge phones for the local people at a cost of Ush500.
And unlike in the past when solar energy was alien to this area, “People go to bars and shops that have solar, late into the night,” said Alekua.
The solar energy projects were originally initiated in Arua, Luwero, Kampala and Tororo.
The project, initially the brainchild of JEEP, focussed on the environmental sustainability and conservation. However, Bob Kazungu, the Projects Officer of I.T power, Eastern Africa, says they had to add solar energy to their docket when they discovered its unique potential. He acknowledges that energy is increasingly being demanded in all aspects of life. “Demand for renewable energy services is very high, and for solar, it is overwhelming.”
Currently, only about 31% of the Ugandan population has access to electricity, Kazungu observed, adding that the 2001-2010 strategic plan aims at increasing access to electricity to over 400, 000 homes.
Although, certain milestones have been realised in tapping the potential of solar energy, the solar project in Uganda still faces challenges of poor quality appliances and limited accessibility due to the high costs of solar related products.
Moreover, according Kazungu, about 80 percent of solar companies in Uganda are Kampala based. This has made solar products not only unaffordable but also inaccessible. But, government intervention by provision of subsidies to the solar sub-sector in Uganda is yet to be a positive light at the end of the tunnel in accessing cheaper alternative energy.
“Taxes have been removed on some of the appliances as part of the subsidies,” said Mr Paul Mubiru, the Director for Energy and Mineral Development. He admits that though solar is relatively expensive in terms of operational and maintenance mechanisms, at least a hundred and one schools have access to it.
Mr Mubiru also observed that the rural areas are highly sidelined and there needs to be such an alternative energy source, which could shield many a poor household in such areas from expensive electricity. This is likely to be realised by the promise of financing from the World Bank by June this year. With such a possibility, Uganda could be on the road to expanding its solar energy base for a cleaner, healthier environment.
Joshua Masinde
Demand for energy needs has been on the rise and this has made electricity costs to skyrocket. Matters almost went to the dogs with an acute shortage of fuel, not only with last year’s post-poll crisis in the neighbouring Kenya but also at the beginning of this year.Despite the prices of crude oil dropping to a record low of US$ 36 per barrel, production and transportation costs have kept the prices high.
However, in the face of such challenges, there’s a gigantic potential of untapped solar energy in Uganda, which most of the Western European countries like Germany and Denmark, have exploited to meet the energy needs of their economies and populations. This solar energy, once tapped and put into effective use in Uganda could be a classic blessing, not just in cutting down consumption costs and maintaining a healthy environment, but also in creating wealth through commercial ventures and more jobs.
Solar energy is in its neophyte stage in Uganda. Where it has been proliferated, substantial progress in terms of welfare of the community members who have access to it has been noted as it is making a big difference and gradually transforming lives.
Speaking in a conference at the department of Food Science and Technology in Makerere University on Thursday, Dr. Maegaard Preben, the Director of Folkecenter for renewable
energy in Denmark noted that the effective use of solar energy reduces power consumption by 65 percent. He explored the need for developing countries like Uganda to tap the sun as a renewable source of solar energy, which would last for as long as 5 billion years. His assertion cannot be more correct as the experience here in Uganda is a testimony to the benefit of investing in solar energy.Such renewable energy has tremendously reduced expenses in households where other forms of energy like electricity, and petroleum and wood fuel are expensive, as Santore Alekua, the LC III of Ajia Sub-county in Arua district attested.
“One electricity pole is about Ushs1.5 million and purchasing poles to cover 8km is too much.” He added that the community members, especially in the rural locations of Arua district can’t think of extension lines, leave alone purchasing even one pole. Even people staying in towns are contemplating adopting the use of solar energy as an alternative source of cheaper energy.
The adoption of solar energy especially in rural areas that can’t access electricity is beneficial in more ways than one. In such areas as Arua, Tororo, Luwero, Mukono and Kampala, it is being used in cell phone charging, charging batteries and cells for radio and torches, lighting up homes and even powering radio and television sets. This is far much cheaper than meeting the increasing costs of electricity and fuel.
Besides, the commercial viability of solar energy is of the essence to such groups as Ajia Trading Centre Community Project, in Arua, which has about 15 members who have solar panels they use for their commercial engagements. The solar panels, donated by (JEEP) Joint Energy and Environment Projects, power the fridge for the community’s health centre. Some members of the community project in Ajia Sub-county now charge phones for the local people at a cost of Ush500.
And unlike in the past when solar energy was alien to this area, “People go to bars and shops that have solar, late into the night,” said Alekua.
The solar energy projects were originally initiated in Arua, Luwero, Kampala and Tororo.
The project, initially the brainchild of JEEP, focussed on the environmental sustainability and conservation. However, Bob Kazungu, the Projects Officer of I.T power, Eastern Africa, says they had to add solar energy to their docket when they discovered its unique potential. He acknowledges that energy is increasingly being demanded in all aspects of life. “Demand for renewable energy services is very high, and for solar, it is overwhelming.”Currently, only about 31% of the Ugandan population has access to electricity, Kazungu observed, adding that the 2001-2010 strategic plan aims at increasing access to electricity to over 400, 000 homes.
Although, certain milestones have been realised in tapping the potential of solar energy, the solar project in Uganda still faces challenges of poor quality appliances and limited accessibility due to the high costs of solar related products.
Moreover, according Kazungu, about 80 percent of solar companies in Uganda are Kampala based. This has made solar products not only unaffordable but also inaccessible. But, government intervention by provision of subsidies to the solar sub-sector in Uganda is yet to be a positive light at the end of the tunnel in accessing cheaper alternative energy.“Taxes have been removed on some of the appliances as part of the subsidies,” said Mr Paul Mubiru, the Director for Energy and Mineral Development. He admits that though solar is relatively expensive in terms of operational and maintenance mechanisms, at least a hundred and one schools have access to it.
Mr Mubiru also observed that the rural areas are highly sidelined and there needs to be such an alternative energy source, which could shield many a poor household in such areas from expensive electricity. This is likely to be realised by the promise of financing from the World Bank by June this year. With such a possibility, Uganda could be on the road to expanding its solar energy base for a cleaner, healthier environment.
Joshua Masinde
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2 comments:
In a country wherein power shortage is an issue, everything will be possible, especially in finding an alternative. Use it wisely and abundantly.
That is precise. However, there's still the issue of accessibility. People, especially in the developng countries need to be enlightened and empowered on access and use of solar panels to avert recurrent power shortages.
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