fishing, agro-industry sectors as well as the small scale
business enterprises that operate during the day time
hours have proved to provide more employment opportunities which continue to raise the socio-economic
status of the beneficiaries. However, the hydro MGs
are still heavily susceptible to the varying water levels
which in turn affects power generation levels like the
case of Kisiizi MG. Nevertheless, from this review, it
has been noted that several MGs have adopted energy
storage options to avert the challenge of intermittency
but hybridization ought to be the ultimate solution.
Though the payback is dependent on numerous
intricate factors, the technology used plays a big part.
The Kitobo MG for instance, has higher tariffs than its
counterparts due to the fact that vanadium flow batteries were employed which have a lifetime of close to
40 years as opposed to the lead acid and lithium ion
batteries. It is by no doubt therefore that the project
payback period is largely dependent on a case by case
basis and usually spans between 4-10 years. Additionally, despite Alternating Current (AC) MGs often
benefitting from grid arrival due to financial compensation, AC based MGs incorporate more components
as opposed to DC MGs and are thus more costly. Lastly,
the payback period of a particular project lessens with
increased PUE which usually ensure maximum utility
of generated power and thus maximize returns.
7 CONCLUSION
Indeed, MG development by taking advantage of the
abundance of RE resources that are widely available
in the country proves to be the least cost solution
for increased energy access to the underserved rural
communities by providing the opportunity to leap
frog to faster socio-economic rural development. This
is mainly because MGs are regarded as the better
approach of delivering a fast and more economic
approach of power generation as witnessed in this
review. Other than the Kalangala and Kabunyata MGs
which have had more than 50% impact on businesses comprised of commercial customers, the rest
have enormously impacted households who mainly
use energy for phone charging, lighting, and other
small appliances in tiers 1-2. This therefore serves
as a wakeup call for developers to look further into
investing in selling services as well as stimulating PUE
through joint ventures by funding locally led commercial activities. This shall necessitate the adoption of
specific tailor-made business models for advancing
profitable enterprises like refrigeration, ice making,
and milling to mention which shall collectively favor
rapid rural development.
8 RECOMMENDATIONS
To attain the 98% energy access spelt out in the country’s SE4ALL action agenda by 2030, revamped efforts
of the government in working with key stakeholders
to develop strategic interventions shall remain pivotal.
It’s equally essential to keenly study and develop a
MG policy that targets the existing policy gaps through
the benchmarking on already established frameworks
driving positive change. Furthermore, the ability to
further incorporate the MTF in energy policy shall
prove useful in providing the ability to track progress
towards SDG 7; help in setting realistic goals for
energy access; help formulate adequate policy interventions; establish the inter-linkages between energy
access and other sectors and delineate the relevant
supply and demand data. Correspondingly, studies
to investigate the impact of the different tiers of
electricity access on the level of rural development
should be conducted so as to provide a useful benchmark for further related investment decisions for the
wider national grid electrification programs. This is
because the energy demand growth is eminent. Finally,
increased initiatives should be put forth to advance the
integration of hybrid renewables for better flexibility,
reliability and reduced LCOE.
REFERENCES
Bah, E. M., Hanouz, M. D., Crotti, R., Hoffman, B., Marchat, J. M., & Verdier-Chouchane, A. (2017). The Africa
Competitiveness Report 2017.
Bahaj, A., Blunden, L., Kanani, C., James, P., Kiva, I.,
Matthews, Z., Price, H., Essendi, H., Falkingham, J., &
George, G. (2019). The Impact of an Electrical Minigrid on the Development of a Rural Community in
Kenya. Energies, 12(778), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.3390/
en12050778
Bahaj, A., & James, P. (2019). Electrical Minigrids for Development: Lessons From the Field. Proceedings of the IEEE,
1–14. https://doi.org/10.1109/JPROC.2019.2924594
Barelli, L., Bidini, G., Cherubini, P., Micangeli, A., Pelosi,
D., & Tacconelli, C. (2019). How Hybridization of
Energy Storage Technologies Can Provide Additional
Flexibility and Competitiveness to Microgrids in the Context of Developing Countries. Energies, 12(3138), 1–22.
https://doi.org/10.3390/en12163138
Bhatia, M., & Angelou, N. (2015). Beyond Connections:
Energy Access Redefined.
Chessin, E., Cook, R., Gessesse, E., & Solano-Peralta, M.
(2017). Practical Guide to the Regulatory Treatment of
Minigrids.
ERA. (2016). The Least Cost Generation Plan 2016 – 2025.
ERA. (2018). Annual Report FY 2017-18.
ERA. (2019). Sector Update Newsletter.
ESMAP. (2019). Mini Grids for Half a Billion People: Market
Outlook and Handbook for Decision Makers. Executive
Summary.
Fashina, A., Mundu, M., & Akiyode, O. (2018). The Drivers
and Barriers of Renewable Energy Applications and
Development in Uganda: A Review. Clean Technologies,
1, 9–39. https://doi.org/10.3390/cleantechnol1010003
Fraatz, J. (2013). Mobile towers for rural electrification. https://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/wpcontent/uploads/2013/06/GIZ.pdf
Gambino, V., Del Citto, R., Cherubini, P., Tacconelli, C.,
Micangeli, A., & Giglioli, R. (2019). Methodology for
the Energy Need Assessment to Effectively Design and
Deploy Mini-Grids for Rural Electrification. Energies,
12(574), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.3390/en12030574
254
business enterprises that operate during the day time
hours have proved to provide more employment opportunities which continue to raise the socio-economic
status of the beneficiaries. However, the hydro MGs
are still heavily susceptible to the varying water levels
which in turn affects power generation levels like the
case of Kisiizi MG. Nevertheless, from this review, it
has been noted that several MGs have adopted energy
storage options to avert the challenge of intermittency
but hybridization ought to be the ultimate solution.
Though the payback is dependent on numerous
intricate factors, the technology used plays a big part.
The Kitobo MG for instance, has higher tariffs than its
counterparts due to the fact that vanadium flow batteries were employed which have a lifetime of close to
40 years as opposed to the lead acid and lithium ion
batteries. It is by no doubt therefore that the project
payback period is largely dependent on a case by case
basis and usually spans between 4-10 years. Additionally, despite Alternating Current (AC) MGs often
benefitting from grid arrival due to financial compensation, AC based MGs incorporate more components
as opposed to DC MGs and are thus more costly. Lastly,
the payback period of a particular project lessens with
increased PUE which usually ensure maximum utility
of generated power and thus maximize returns.
7 CONCLUSION
Indeed, MG development by taking advantage of the
abundance of RE resources that are widely available
in the country proves to be the least cost solution
for increased energy access to the underserved rural
communities by providing the opportunity to leap
frog to faster socio-economic rural development. This
is mainly because MGs are regarded as the better
approach of delivering a fast and more economic
approach of power generation as witnessed in this
review. Other than the Kalangala and Kabunyata MGs
which have had more than 50% impact on businesses comprised of commercial customers, the rest
have enormously impacted households who mainly
use energy for phone charging, lighting, and other
small appliances in tiers 1-2. This therefore serves
as a wakeup call for developers to look further into
investing in selling services as well as stimulating PUE
through joint ventures by funding locally led commercial activities. This shall necessitate the adoption of
specific tailor-made business models for advancing
profitable enterprises like refrigeration, ice making,
and milling to mention which shall collectively favor
rapid rural development.
8 RECOMMENDATIONS
To attain the 98% energy access spelt out in the country’s SE4ALL action agenda by 2030, revamped efforts
of the government in working with key stakeholders
to develop strategic interventions shall remain pivotal.
It’s equally essential to keenly study and develop a
MG policy that targets the existing policy gaps through
the benchmarking on already established frameworks
driving positive change. Furthermore, the ability to
further incorporate the MTF in energy policy shall
prove useful in providing the ability to track progress
towards SDG 7; help in setting realistic goals for
energy access; help formulate adequate policy interventions; establish the inter-linkages between energy
access and other sectors and delineate the relevant
supply and demand data. Correspondingly, studies
to investigate the impact of the different tiers of
electricity access on the level of rural development
should be conducted so as to provide a useful benchmark for further related investment decisions for the
wider national grid electrification programs. This is
because the energy demand growth is eminent. Finally,
increased initiatives should be put forth to advance the
integration of hybrid renewables for better flexibility,
reliability and reduced LCOE.
REFERENCES
Bah, E. M., Hanouz, M. D., Crotti, R., Hoffman, B., Marchat, J. M., & Verdier-Chouchane, A. (2017). The Africa
Competitiveness Report 2017.
Bahaj, A., Blunden, L., Kanani, C., James, P., Kiva, I.,
Matthews, Z., Price, H., Essendi, H., Falkingham, J., &
George, G. (2019). The Impact of an Electrical Minigrid on the Development of a Rural Community in
Kenya. Energies, 12(778), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.3390/
en12050778
Bahaj, A., & James, P. (2019). Electrical Minigrids for Development: Lessons From the Field. Proceedings of the IEEE,
1–14. https://doi.org/10.1109/JPROC.2019.2924594
Barelli, L., Bidini, G., Cherubini, P., Micangeli, A., Pelosi,
D., & Tacconelli, C. (2019). How Hybridization of
Energy Storage Technologies Can Provide Additional
Flexibility and Competitiveness to Microgrids in the Context of Developing Countries. Energies, 12(3138), 1–22.
https://doi.org/10.3390/en12163138
Bhatia, M., & Angelou, N. (2015). Beyond Connections:
Energy Access Redefined.
Chessin, E., Cook, R., Gessesse, E., & Solano-Peralta, M.
(2017). Practical Guide to the Regulatory Treatment of
Minigrids.
ERA. (2016). The Least Cost Generation Plan 2016 – 2025.
ERA. (2018). Annual Report FY 2017-18.
ERA. (2019). Sector Update Newsletter.
ESMAP. (2019). Mini Grids for Half a Billion People: Market
Outlook and Handbook for Decision Makers. Executive
Summary.
Fashina, A., Mundu, M., & Akiyode, O. (2018). The Drivers
and Barriers of Renewable Energy Applications and
Development in Uganda: A Review. Clean Technologies,
1, 9–39. https://doi.org/10.3390/cleantechnol1010003
Fraatz, J. (2013). Mobile towers for rural electrification. https://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/wpcontent/uploads/2013/06/GIZ.pdf
Gambino, V., Del Citto, R., Cherubini, P., Tacconelli, C.,
Micangeli, A., & Giglioli, R. (2019). Methodology for
the Energy Need Assessment to Effectively Design and
Deploy Mini-Grids for Rural Electrification. Energies,
12(574), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.3390/en12030574
254