A recent comprehensive study conducted by the World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and its collaborators has underscored the critical need for increased investment in Uganda’s renewable energy sector to meet its ambitious target of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2050.
Titled ‘Uganda’s Energy Transition: Towards 100% Renewable Energy by 2050,’ the study projects a significant 60% reduction in Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) by 2050, compared to conventional business-as-usual (BAU) plans when transitioning to a fully renewable energy system (FullRE100).
The report also highlights the potential for even greater savings with an 80% renewable share and 20% fossil share.
Yona Turinayo, the coordinator of energy, climate, and extractives at WWF, emphasized that for Uganda to achieve the 100% renewable energy target, a substantial upfront investment of over $390 billion is required.
Turinayo detailed that this ambitious goal entails a 90% reliance on solar energy, with the remaining 10% sourced from other alternatives, including hydrogen.
The study suggests that such a transition will not only bring about a 60% reduction in the average net present cost of electricity generation but will also facilitate the replacement of conventional cooking stoves with electric stoves.
This shift aims to ensure that Uganda’s biomass usage remains within sustainable limits, mitigating environmental degradation.
Dr Nicholas Mukisa, the deputy national coordinator for the National Energy Platform, highlighted the prevalent reliance on biomass (87.8%) in Uganda, coupled with limited access to clean cooking technologies (1% access), leading to environmental degradation.
He advocated for the integration of renewables into institutional, economic, social, and technical decision-making processes.
This, he believes, will not only foster a greater appreciation for renewable energy but also address existing misconceptions and disadvantages associated with its adoption.
