Analysis of the Development and Installations of Renewable Energy-based Mini-grids: Case study Uganda

The provision of energy to all citizens has been an outstanding need in most developing countries in order to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Uganda as a developing country has put mechanisms in place to provide electricity to her people and be able to realize the national vision of 2040 and be able to address other SDGs by 2030. Solar PV mini-grids are emerging as popular alternatives to address rural electrification shortfall after other renewable energy mini-grid types proved desirable for some period. Uganda's expectations of renewable mini-grids are high with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, the World Bank, and the Government of Uganda showing much interest to support the mini-grid development. This paper, therefore, looks at general mini-grid development and operation models and finds out arguments making renewable energy mini-grids popular at the expense of non-renewable based mini-grids. The methodology focuses on exploring ideas and formulating a hypothesis by summarizing, categorizing, and interpreting both the primary and secondary data. The paper concludes looking at the strength, benefits, and challenges of renewable mini-grids.

I. Introduction

The provision of recent energy services is important for the economic growth of any community. This contributes to poverty eradication and enhancement of economic and social development among the un-served and underserved rural communities [1]. The supply of electric power is decisive for the supply of food, beverage, conservation of food, storage of medical supplies, telecommunications facilities, and entertainment, etc. Despite all the advantages achievable from electricity, it is unfortunate that about 28% of Uganda's population has access to modern energy services according to the Uganda Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development in October 2019. As of April 2019, generation capacity was 1,167 MW, with a peak demand of about 625 MW and approximately 25 percent national electrification rate. At that point, an estimated 1,000 new customers were requesting a grid power connection on the day after, with over 1.3 million existing Umeme connection [2]–[3]. Fig 1

Different sources of uganda's electricity Note: 1.

The hydroelectricity totals include the 183 megawatts Isimba Hydroelectric Powerhouse, completed in January 2019, with commercial operation starting in March 2019.

2.

The solar energy totals include the ten megawatts Soroti Solar energy Station, the ten megawatts Tororo Solar Power Station, and therefore the 20 megawatts Kabulasoke Solar energy Station.

3.

Buranga (100MW) in Budidibugyo and Katwe(150MW) in Kasese are pending Geothermal power stations

4.

Tororo wind power station (20MW) by Xsabo wind technologies in Tororo is also a pending wind station

Source: MEMD 2019.