Matter-Empowering Entrepreneurs for Rural eletrification

The starting point for this project
was to develop the technical
layout and business plan for
a biogas-based battery charging
station in Uganda for FACT Foundation.
This report presents the research
and analysis, the evolution
of the project as well as the proposed
solution and its evaluation.

Access to energy in Uganda is
problematic, like in many other
African countries. Poor infrastructure,
improper management of resources
as well as a lack of steady
income for most of the population
results in less than 10% of the
population being able to make
use of the electricity grid. The
Ssese Islands, where this project
has been initiated, are not connected
to this mainland grid at all.
A research trip to analyse the
physical and social situation was
carried out, resulting in re-framing
the initial project brief and creating
some alternative solutions.
After evaluating all of the possibilities
afforded by biogas, and
carrying out some simple calculations
and tests, the final concept
and direction was determined.
Models have been constructed
to calculate and better comprehend
the relationship between
the waste input and energy
output, as well as the financial
structure of such an enterprise.
This allowed us to optimize the
charging station system, before
developing a system to enable
other entrepreneurs to
start their own charging station.
This system is called Factory. It
consists of a physical kit, a website
with a complementary SMS
service, and requires the use of
multifunctional lamps to distribute
electricity. It also requires FACT
Foundation to address some
structural changes within its organization.
Setting up such a system
to recruit and enable entrepreneurs
in developing countries
requires some closer control and
more local knowledge. This is why
the position of a Regional Representative
is proposed, who is in
charge of screening, supervising
and supporting the entrepreneurs
in his assigned region. The Regional
Representative also forms
the link between FACT Foundation
and the entrepreneurs.
The cash flow of such an enterprise
has been modelled to
be flexible and accomodate regional
differences, but according
to the project already initiated
on the Ssese Islands, after
making the investment in the
first year and starting operations
at the start of the second year,
the entrepreneur can expect to
break even at the end of the third
year. This model also includes
monthly wages of €200 for the
entrepreneur, and foresees an
annual profit of approximately
€18,500 after breaking even.
Possible risks of the proposed
system from social and technical
perspectives are evaluated with
suggestions for minimizing them.
The main benefits in the short term
include the contribution of this
project to waste management, improving
the well-being of the rural
population, empowering and employing
local entrepreneurs and
creating a sustainable fertiliser. In
the long-term, the project contributes
to FACT Foundation’s strategic
goals, helping them become a
stronger organization, and establishing
them as a leader in their
field, while exploring the more human
impact of their technologies.

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