Solar is solution to Uganda’s energy woes
May 09, 2009
AS Uganda explores fossil fuels like oil to solve her energy woes, yet they cause global warming, wealthier nations are exploiting solar power to preserve the environment.
By Ibrahim Kasita
AS Uganda explores fossil fuels like oil to solve her energy woes, yet they cause global warming, wealthier nations are exploiting solar power to preserve the environment.
From household solar panels to solar heating systems, solar energy has enjoyed an explosive growth in Europe and the US, except Uganda and sub-Saharan Africa.
Solar power is converted into electrical power using solar panels.
Solar usage is common in those wealthier nations because of tax rebates and supportive investment policies.
“The boom in Europe is because governments provides structures to encourage the private sector to invest in the sector,†Sylvia Saydo, the sales manager of Shoenau AG Technologies, a leading Germany solar firm, said.
She says encouraging people to trade in carbon credit and financial incentives motivate investors to put their money in solar technology.
According to Uganda’s renewable energy policy 2007, only 5% of Uganda’s 31 million people have electricity.
Although Uganda has plenty of sunshine, it is facing an acute energy crisis, yet cold places like Berlin in Germany utilise solar power.
“With plenty of sunshine, there is no excuse for not using photovoltaic devices to tap energy from the sun,†Saydo said.
“In Europe, we have snow but we are the leaders in using solar energy. For Africa, it has not yet been implemented yet it is the solution to their power problems,†he observes.
Carsten Winkler, the project officer at Shoenau AG Technologies, explains that solar power is easy to install and cheap because it is not affected by the supply and demand of fuel.
“After the initial investment has been recovered, solar energy is free. The recovery period for this investment can be short depending on how much electricity your household uses.â€
Since reduction of carbon-dioxide emissions is a critical issue, solar energy can help since it is clean, renewable and sustainable.
“Solar energy decreases harmful green house gas emissions,†Winkler points out.
The technology can be operated in remote rural areas without connection to a power grid.
“Once the system is installed, there are no additional costs like maintenance and it will last for 20 to 25 years. It can be easily expanded when the need arises,†he notes.
However, the supply of solar power can fluctuate depending on the amount of sunshine.
Also, solar panels are still expensive for most consumers in third world countries like Uganda. A high-performance home solar lighting system costs between euros 2,500 (sh7.3m) and 3,000 (sh8.8m).
This means the majority of Ugandans, who live on less than $2 a day, cannot afford solar panels.
“In the past five years, prices were rising because the demand has been increasing. This stopped and prices will drop sharply,†Saydo says.
AS Uganda explores fossil fuels like oil to solve her energy woes, yet they cause global warming, wealthier nations are exploiting solar power to preserve the environment.
From household solar panels to solar heating systems, solar energy has enjoyed an explosive growth in Europe and the US, except Uganda and sub-Saharan Africa.
Solar power is converted into electrical power using solar panels.
Solar usage is common in those wealthier nations because of tax rebates and supportive investment policies.
“The boom in Europe is because governments provides structures to encourage the private sector to invest in the sector,†Sylvia Saydo, the sales manager of Shoenau AG Technologies, a leading Germany solar firm, said.
She says encouraging people to trade in carbon credit and financial incentives motivate investors to put their money in solar technology.
According to Uganda’s renewable energy policy 2007, only 5% of Uganda’s 31 million people have electricity.
Although Uganda has plenty of sunshine, it is facing an acute energy crisis, yet cold places like Berlin in Germany utilise solar power.
“With plenty of sunshine, there is no excuse for not using photovoltaic devices to tap energy from the sun,†Saydo said.
“In Europe, we have snow but we are the leaders in using solar energy. For Africa, it has not yet been implemented yet it is the solution to their power problems,†he observes.
Carsten Winkler, the project officer at Shoenau AG Technologies, explains that solar power is easy to install and cheap because it is not affected by the supply and demand of fuel.
“After the initial investment has been recovered, solar energy is free. The recovery period for this investment can be short depending on how much electricity your household uses.â€
Since reduction of carbon-dioxide emissions is a critical issue, solar energy can help since it is clean, renewable and sustainable.
“Solar energy decreases harmful green house gas emissions,†Winkler points out.
The technology can be operated in remote rural areas without connection to a power grid.
“Once the system is installed, there are no additional costs like maintenance and it will last for 20 to 25 years. It can be easily expanded when the need arises,†he notes.
However, the supply of solar power can fluctuate depending on the amount of sunshine.
Also, solar panels are still expensive for most consumers in third world countries like Uganda. A high-performance home solar lighting system costs between euros 2,500 (sh7.3m) and 3,000 (sh8.8m).
This means the majority of Ugandans, who live on less than $2 a day, cannot afford solar panels.
“In the past five years, prices were rising because the demand has been increasing. This stopped and prices will drop sharply,†Saydo says.