A coalition, known as Utilities 2.0, has under the pilot project called “Twaake” (or “Let’s light” in Luganda) which include; Umeme Limited, Makerere University, The Rockefeller Foundation, and Power for All. Power for All is a global charity dedicated to accelerating the end of energy poverty–and a coalition of energy companies launched an integrated energy pilot to test new ways of accelerating energy access, stimulating customer demand and improving grid performance in Uganda.
The pilot areas for “Twaake ” include Kiwumu, Nyenge and Namasumbi villages in Mukono District. The pilot will establish whether appliance financing can accelerate the productive use of electricity as well as establish whether the integration of utility operations with distributed renewable generation (DRE) can create more economically viable connections, faster.
The pilot for Twaake is designed to support Uganda to achieve universal energy access before 2040. Today, one-fourth of Ugandans have energy access. Simultaneously, energy off-take has failed to keep pace with Uganda’s generation growth, leading to increased pressure to stimulate energy demand across the country, to ensure profitability and long-term sustainable demand growth. Based on grid economics across Africa, traditional grid extension can’t solve these pressures alone. Umeme CEO Selestino Babungi told us that;
Umeme is committed to exploring new ideas, approaches, and technologies that can deliver value to our customers and the public. We believe that this pilot will reveal new ways in which we can deliver on our mandate and support the government agenda of accelerating access to clean energy.
“For too long centralized grid-based utilities and decentralized renewable energy companies have worked in silos,” said Power for All’s CEO Kristina Skierka. “Neither traditional utilities nor DRE providers can end energy poverty alone. By working together, we can leverage comparative strengths and achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7).”
In addition to Umeme, the Utilities 2.0 (Twaake) Uganda pilot involves several private sector companies, including Fenix International, East African Power (EAP), Equatorial Power, EnerGrow, and NxtGrid/ZOLA Electric. The work is being funded by The Rockefeller Foundation.
“This pilot is an important demonstration of how utilities can integrate distributed energy technologies into their service areas,” said Clare Boland Ross, Managing Director of The Rockefeller Foundation’s Power Initiative. “We need to see more pilots like Twaake that can help other progressive governments, incumbent utilities and off-grid companies explore an integrated electrification approach, advancing a blend of grid-extension and off-grid electrification.”
 which include; Umeme Limited){kind=link}