Green People’s Energy for Africa – Uganda

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.

So far, SoloGrid has educated more than 100 head teachers as well as local government staff about the advantages of modern Solar Home Systems for primary education through training workshops and the setup of a demonstration installation at a primary school in Gulu (Northern Uganda). Until the end of 2020, the company intends to equip 100 primary schools in Northern Uganda with Solar Home Systems.