The Northern Region of Uganda is extremely poor, mainly due to

regional war activity. Over 80 % of the people live below the

poverty line and the need to improve income levels and sustain

peace is urgent. Most of the cooking is done on wood/charcoal

stripped from unused land. Because of Uganda’s landlocked

nature, sustainable energy will need to come from the use of

biomass, the only available source. The Government of Uganda

has urged the private sector to create energy projects such as

providing for decentralized grids. Lack of access to modern

energy services is seen as an important inhibiting factor for

development.

The Project

The main objective of the project is to improve the income of

people in Gulu District through the introduction of sustainable energy and agricultural production,

which will generate energy for a 1063 kW gas engine, producing over 8.3 million kWh/ year. This will

give year round access to electricity and thermal energy for three small industries, a school, a health

clinic, a prison and over 700 households. The project will facilitate an annual production of 20,000 ton

of maize silage, which will provide the necessary input to the 1063 kW generator, which will produce

over 8.3 million kWh/year.

The Process

Electric and heat energy will be produced through an anaerobic digester, which produces the

biogas. After cleaning and separation, the gas feeds a GE Jenbaucher engine for total capacity of

1MW electricity and 600 kW thermal energy. The inputs for the digester will consist of maize silage and

in a later stage cow dung. The unit will conservatively produce over 8.3 million units (kWh) a year. The

unit will also produce approximately 4,000 ton of organic fertilizer/year. The project will use 1,000 ton/

year for the 250 ha maize farm and the remaining 3,000 ton will be sold.

Community Benefits

The project will provide electricity to more than 3,500 people and provide for 180 jobs directly.

Electricity will also be provided to a primary school and a health clinic. Three industries: a briquette

plant, an drip irrigation company and a cold storage/milk chiller/processing plant will receive

electricity. PH Industrial Farm will develop another 180 ha of horticulture, not only for local

consumption but also for export to the Southern Sudan. This activity

will provide jobs for an additional 60 workers. Also it will operate a

pellet making, chipping and briquette manufacturing, which will

provide for an additional 90 jobs. Another important economic

activity locally is the proposed development of a dairy and this

operation will provide work for 170 workers.

The Project Initiator

MPPL is one of the leading companies in the world to utilize

agricultural waste for energy production. The company’s mission is

the optimal utilisation of sustainably available local biomass to

meet the energy needs of local communities, in particular in rural

Asia/Africa. MPPL pioneered the firing of low density crop residues

as primary fuel in biomass boilers and pioneered the concept of

producing organic fertiliser from Biomass Power Plant waste. To

encompass the entire spectrum of bio resources, MPP established an Indian Joint Venture Company

with Envitec Biogas AG (global leader in Biogas Plants based on agricultural produce/waste and

manure). MPPL will supervise the design, procurement and construction of the Gulu bio-energy unit.

MPPL will also provide the training of the technical staff of the Gulu Bio Energy project.

Project contact: Mr K Krishan, MPPL,

Email: kkrishan1951@gmail.com and tel: +91-9845071534

Daey Ouwens Fund for

Small-Scale Renewable

Energy Projects

GULU BIO-ENERGY

Providing sustainable energy in the northern war-torn

region of Uganda

Goal

To improve income of people in

Gulu by agricultural production,

giving year round access to

electricity and thermal energy for

three small industries, a school, a

health clinic, a prison and over 700

households.

Project duration

2011-2013

Budget

€ 2,984,980.

KHED03016

Modern biogas digesters to convert

silage into energy and fertilizer.