PV Plant and Solar Charging Stations for
E-mobility at Yujo Izakaya, Kampala, Uganda
RES programme
One of enPower.life's Most Exciting Projects
Based on nearly 25 years of engineering expertise, and guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, enPower.life empowers Ugandan businesses by powering them with affordable and clean solar energy for a global sustainable development.
The solar solution for our client Yujo Izakaya in Uganda's bustling capital Kampala is the first of its' kind as it's connected to solar charging stations for E-Bodas and E-Cars, thus not only powering sustainable businesses, but also supporting sustainable transport in the city.
Yujo Izakaya is the name of a Japanese fusion restaurant that was founded by Hanif Rehemtulla. Hanif Rehemtulla cares not only about excellent cuisine, but also sustainability. Over time, he gathered multiple sustainably oriented businesses that now form the Nekosero shopping and lifestyle complex. The first part of the solar plant, a 35 kWp PV rooftop system, was installed on the roof of Yujo Izakaya and commissioned in summer 2022. In 2024, another 5 kWp PV panel was installed near the road, and connected to a solar E-Boda charging station, after Hanif Rehemtulla was approached by Liliane Felix, founder of Women Rising for Africa and originator of the program Women on Wheels, who requested the installation of a charging station for E-Bodas. The Women on Wheels program seeks to empower women through a comprehensive approach. It not only focuses on teaching women how to ride motorcycles but also includes training in traffic laws, first aid, self-defense, and basic business skills. Because less than 2% of drivers in Uganda are women, limiting employment opportunities for them, and also raising concerns about their safety and autonomy.
We are delighted that our solar solution goes beyond mere energy production. We would like to thank our EPC partner Equator Solar for the excellent engineering work on this project.
"The opportunity offered by enPower.life enables us to take the most significant step towards our sustainability goal so far. By harvesting the suns’ power during the day, we will reduce the strain on our local electricity grid and encourage others to follow our example, while at the same time drastically reducing our electricity costs."
Hanif Rehemtulla
Founder & CEO Yujo Izakaya
Technical Facts
40 kWp solar plant
35 kWp commissioned in July 2022
5 kWp addition in 2024
3 x 11 kW
Installation of solar charging stations for E-Cars in 2024
Connection of the 5 kWp PV panel to solar charging station for E-Bodas in 2024
- Independent Power Producer (IPP) with bases in Germany and Uganda.
- Solar PV rooftop systems for businesses.
- Connection to E-charging stations possible.
- Lease model = no up-front costs
- Currently a total of 300+ kWp in operation, with 330 kWp in various stages of construction
- Clean, safe, reliable, and more affordable than electricity from diesel generators and the grid.
enPower.life in a nutshell
Since it's commissioning in summer 2022,
this PV plant has generated a total of
which means it has saved the emission of
which is equivalent to
Impressions from the Inauguration Ceremony
24/7 Access to Energy: Not yet a Standard
enPower.life emerged from the decades-long experience of Envidatec. Over time, it became increasingly evident at Envidatec that sustainable development no longer fails due to technical limitations but rather due to structural issues. Political, socio-economic, and financial hurdles often hinder or prevent sustainable projects. In Uganda, these challenges manifest in various problems.
In Uganda, as in many emerging countries, 24/7 access to electricity is not yet a standard, and gaps in energy supply are common. In 2019, only 41.3% of the Ugandan population had access to electricity. While urban are generally better off, in rural areas the percentage was only at 32%. According to World Bank data, this figure rose to 47.1% in 2022. In general, Uganda's population could greatly benefit from better electricity access.
IEA, IRENA, UNSD, World Bank, WHO. 2023. Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report. World Bank, Washington DC. © World Bank.
The Real Cost of Power Outages
An unreliable energy supply affects education (kindergartens and schools), food security (disrupted cold chains), and can even risk lives (hospitals) due to frequent blackouts and power outages. To bridge grid failures, many businesses use diesel generators. However, these are often old, unsafe, harmful to health and climate, and very expensive.
Millions of Deaths from Air Pollution
Solar energy offers an alternative with much better results: the technology is mature, safe, climate-friendly, and results in significantly lower air pollution. If air remains clean from the start, sustainable development can proceed without pressing Ugandan cities into a phase of extreme air pollution, as was historically the case in cities like London, where pollution claimed many lives. While the Victorian era is long past, millions still die from air pollution: "The exact number is debated, but all agree it is tragically high—estimated in the millions. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution kills 7 million people yearly: 4.2 million due to outdoor air pollution and 3.8 million from indoor pollution from burning wood and charcoal. The other major global health institute, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), gives a similar figure: 6.7 million. Some scientists believe this number could be even higher, with recent studies estimating at least 9 million annual deaths from polluted air."
Historically, countries have achieved prosperity only after enduring pollution phases that later had to be reversed in a lengthy and expensive process. Solar energy could be one of many essential pieces to pursue an alternative, healthier path to prosperity sooner.
Spektrum.de, 14.06.2023. https://www.spektrum.de/kolumne/kleine-geschichte-vom-smog-der-london-in-toedlichen-nebel-huellte/2148663
Clean Air Fund, 29.01.2024. https://www.cleanairfund.org/news-item/deaths-air-pollution-data-hope/
Uganda's Solar Landscape
Uganda is a prime location for solar generation. With an average specific annual yield of 1624 kWh/kWp on average, the technology is a no-brainer for the region. In addition, solar energy provides an alternative to diesel generators that are commonly used to bridge gaps in the unreliable electricity grid, but that pollute the air with soot, are dangerous to operate, and expensive. There's just one caveat when it comes to solar energy: The up-front costs for a PV plant are high, and often out of reach for SMEs in the region.
This is where enPower.life steps in. By providing solar plants via a lease-model, and offering a comprehensive, in-depth service that goes way beyond the mere installation of a solar plant, we hope to make sustainable solar power accessible to SMEs. For comparison: Even in Germany, solar systems are very worthwhile, even though the specific annual yield of 1077 kWh/kWp is significantly lower.
Money Matters: The Economic Benefits of PV Power
Although climate protection, air pollution, and technology safety are strong enough reasons to adopt solar systems, there are also economic benefits: we can offer solar electricity at a lower price than diesel or grid electricity, providing financial benefits to businesses. However, companies interested in solar solutions face a significant obstacle: the initial purchase and installation costs of solar systems are unaffordable for most, even if they are profitable long-term. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Uganda face two additional issues: international cooperation often provides large funds to build and operate solar plants in Africa. These funds would finance large-scale plants but fail to address Uganda’s actual business landscape, primarily composed of SMEs. A GW-scale plant would be an “overkill”. On the other end, startups and micro-financiers offer tiny solar systems for individual households, which don't benefit Uganda’s SMEs. enPower.life aims to fill this gap and drive access to sustainable and affordable solar energy where Ugandan businesses can benefit the most.
Building the Bridge to the Middle:
Connecting Financing with Local Needs
EPC
- Sourcing of top tier equipment
- Guidance through the financing process
- Providing funding
- Option to buy-out
- Data monitoring with automatic alerts
- Hassle-free maintenance
- Replacement of broken parts
"It's an honor to address so many pressing issues through our enPower.life solar solutions - fighting climate change and air pollution, improving our clients' profit margins by lowering their electricity bills, and supporting E-mobility through solar charging stations which is an important step to make Kampala more sustainable, and is particularly important for womens' empowerment."
Thomas Frank
Founder & CEO enPower.life
Based on nearly 25 years of engineering expertise.
enPower.life resulted from more than 20 years of experience of Envidatec. Envidatec advises companies and the public sector on all questions relating to energy and has successfully implemented over 750 projects in over 40 countries. enPower.life therefore has an invaluable pool of experience and knowledge at its disposal.
German Energy Agency (dena)
German Energy Solutions
RES programme
Links
Press Release
Click here to download the press release
Press & Media
On 14 November 2024, we celebrated the official inauguration of this 40 kWp PV plant and the connected solar charging stations for E-Bodas and E-Cars. Many members of the press were also present to report on the big event. Below you can see a selection of TV, newspaper, online magazine, and radio news from the day.
TV & Radio
Deutsches Konsortium unterstützt Uganda auf dem Weg zur E-Mobilität - German Energy Solutions
Germany supports Uganda’s push for solar energy and gender inclusion - NilePost
Yujo Izakaya pioneers sustainable energy solutions with enPower.life’s solar technology - Eagle.co.ug
enPower.life’s Solar Energy Boosts Uganda’s Sustainable Energy Solutions and Gender Inclusion - SoftPower
Modern charging station for Electric Bikes and cars launched as German pledges more support to Uganda - UGStandard
Newspapers & Magazines
This project is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action as part of the Renewable Energy Solutions Programme of the German Energy Solutions Initiative.
The German Energy Agency (dena) is a centre of excellence for the applied energy transition and climate protection. dena studies the challenges of building a climate-neutral society and supports the German government in achieving its energy and climate policy objectives. Since its foundation in 2000, dena has worked to develop and implement solutions and bring together national and international partners from politics, industry, the scientific community and all parts of society. dena is a project enterprise and a public company owned by the German federal government. dena’s shareholder is the Federal Republic of Germany.
German Energy Solutions Initiative
Renewable Energy Solutions Program (RES program)
German Energy Agency (dena)
German Energy Agency (dena)
German Energy Solutions Initiative
With the aim of positioning German technologies and know-how worldwide, the German Energy Solutions Initiative of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) supports suppliers of climate-friendly energy solutions in opening up foreign markets. The focus lies on renewable energies, energy efficiency, smart grids and storage, as well as technologies such as power-to-gas and fuel cells. Aimed in particular at small and medium-sized enterprises, the German Energy Solutions Initiative supports participants through measures to prepare market entry as well as to prospect, develop and secure new markets.
Renewable Energy Solutions Program (RES program)
German Energy Agency (dena)
German Energy Solutions Initiative
Renewable Energy Solutions Program (RES programme)
With the RES programme, the German Energy Solutions Initiative of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) helps German companies in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors enter new markets. Within the framework of the programme, reference plants are installed and marketed with the support of the German Energy Agency (dena). Information and training activities help ensure a sustainable market entry and demonstrate the quality of climate-friendly technologies made in Germany.
