8.2 REEH completes study for floating solar project in Uganda

8.2 Renewable Energy Experts Hamburg GmbH (8.2 REEH) has announced the successful completion of feasibility study for an innovative floating solar project in Uganda.

The project aims boosting the country’s energy usage while addressing local needs and environmental considerations. The study forms the project’s second phase where 8.2 REEH partnered with Sweco International AB in a consortium.

READ:Ethiopia to receive US $46M for Borana Resilient Water Development Program

Renewable energy in Uganda

The assessment focused on four reservoirs along the Nile, spanning from Jinja to Karuma, evaluating the feasibility of floating PV systems. The goal was to identify the most suitable site for the initial implementation of a floating solar pilot project in Uganda.

Ralf Reek, Managing Director of 8.2 Renewable Energy Experts Hamburg, expressed pride in contributing to Uganda’s renewable energy promotion and anticipated positive impacts on electricity supply, job creation, and economic development.

As part of the consultant team, 8.2 Renewable Energy Experts Hamburg GmbH will continue its involvement, guiding the project through planning to the tendering stage. The initiative is expected not only to boost the region’s supply of CO2-neutral renewable electricity but also to foster economic growth and employment opportunities.

A high percentage of Uganda’s energy consumption comes from renewable sources. These include hydropower, biomass, solar, geothermal, peat and fossil fuels. The energy resource potential of the country includes an estimated 2,000 MW of hydro power, 450 MW of geothermal, 1,650 MW of biomass cogeneration, 460 million tons of biomass standing stock with a sustainable annual yield of 50 million tons, an average of 5.1 kWh/m2 of solar energy, and about 250 Mtoe of peat (800 MW). In addition, petroleum in an estimated amount of 6.5 billion barrels, of which 1.4 billion barrels are recoverable, has been discovered in the western part of the country. The overall renewable energy power generation potential is estimated to be 5,300 MW.