Context
Uganda is endowed with a wide variety of natural energy resources. The country has abundant supplies of biomass, water and peat, as well as favourable conditions for solar, wind and geothermal power generation. Of these, hydropower and biomass are the resources that currently contribute most to meeting the population’s energy demands. While over 90% of all the energy consumed in the country derives from biomass, little is done to replace the supply once it has been used. Furthermore, though the country has a low rate of electrification at 15%, the electricity that is generated is often used wastefully, hence aggravating the already insufficient supply. The situation has caused Uganda to be one of the world’s lowest energy consumers, with the low consumption being attributed mainly to the largely underdeveloped state of the energy sector.
Objective
Conditions in the Ugandan energy sector are more conducive to the use of renewable resources, and steps have been taken to encourage greater efficiency of energy consumption.
Approach
The Promotion of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Programme (PREEEP) supports the Ugandan Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) in promoting the sustainable use of energy for social and economic empowerment, while increasing access to renewable energy and promoting efficient use of existing supplies. PREEEP carries out capacity building measures for the Ministry as a contribution to improved policies, budget planning, monitoring and evaluation. Currently, the programme is also assisting MEMD to establish energy focal points in 17 pilot districts. This is in order to improve exchanges between the Ministry and the local governments.
The programme works primarily on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), but also receives funds from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB). Interventions on behalf of BMUB are designed to promote climate change mitigation strategies by both public and private actors.
At the same time, the international group Energising Development (EnDev), comprised of Australian, British, Dutch, German, Norwegian and Swiss development partners, also provides financing for a number of PREEEP activities. The programme uses EnDev funds to promote the dissemination of renewable and efficient energy products and services.
Meanwhile, measures are also carried out in partnership with German businesses. This is the result of the BMZ’s ‘develoPPP.de’ initiative, which supports European companies interested in investing in developing and emerging economies. So far, partnerships have been started with Kirchner Solar, E.ON and KSB.
The programme also supports the mainstreaming of crosscutting issues, such as gender equality and HIV/AIDS.
Results achieved so far
On behalf of BMZ, PREEEP assisted the Ministry to carry out the first Energy Joint Sector Review in 2011. To date the Ministry has successfully spearheaded three Joint Sector Reviews.
The programme has supported enterprises offering renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies and services to form business associations. Through these, they can lobby their interests and standardise their goods and services. Bodies formed so far include the Uganda National Alliance on Clean Cooking and the Uganda National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Association.
Through the develoPPP.de programme, a mobile network mast in Luwero district has been equipped with solar panels and now brings light to the remote village of Kabunyata. The installation of photovoltaic (PV) generators and mini grids in this remote, off-grid village means the community now has access to clean, affordable electricity and the modern conveniences associated with reliable power.
On behalf of EnDev, the programme has facilitated access to modern energy services for more than 21,000 people through solar and grid connections, more than 200,000 through improved cook stoves, more than 200 social institutions and more than 300 SMEs.
On behalf of BMUB, PREEEP has given its support to the Carbon Foundation for East Africa for the development of a transnational programme of activities (PoA). Known as ‘Improved Cooking Stoves for East Africa’ (ICSEA), this programme aims to spread the use of energy-efficient stoves throughout East Africa. In 2012, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change registered ICSEA as the world’s first multi-country PoA under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). It is based in Uganda, and open to cook stove projects in Kenya, Burundi and Rwanda.