Second Phase of the Solar Photovoltaic Project at MRC/UVRI & LSHTM in Entebbe, Uganda: 45% Solar Fraction Achieved!

In Entebbe, a city on the shores of Lake Victoria in Uganda, there has been recent progress in the field of solar energy. With an exceptional 278 kWp photovoltaic generator and 930 kWh of LFP BESS, the biomedical research unit MRC/UVRI & LSHTM has achieved a 45% solar electricity fraction (which translates into savings on electricity bills). This initiative not only increases the sustainable energy generation capacity of the center but also sets a benchmark towards a more sustainable and energy-autonomous future. As the project is now in its second phase, this expansion has been built upon the previous solar photovoltaic installation, which consisted of a 327 kWp self-consumption system.

The photovoltaic arrays in this new phase have been placed on the roofs of the CRF Clinic, a newly built clinic by the center, and on the staff houses. Each roof directs all photovoltaic strings to two technical rooms where the solar photovoltaic inverters have been installed. Fuses and SPDs have been placed on both the roofs and inside the technical rooms to protect all DC strings. The AC protections and the remaining electrical and communication panels complete the installation inside the technical rooms. All the electricity generated in the CRF clinic area is transferred to the main site area via a recently installed medium-voltage line, an extension of the existing 11 kV ring of the Unit. A Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is connected at low voltage directly to the Unit’s main switchboard. This consists of a set of outdoor cabinets, placed on a concrete slab.

The Medical Research Council in Uganda had a dual objective in mind. On one hand, to reduce electricity bills as much as possible, becoming immune to future fluctuations in electricity and diesel prices. On the other hand, and perhaps more importantly, to become carbon neutral and move closer to full energy autonomy.

We conducted a prefeasibility study, which included monitoring the center’s energy consumption patterns. Then, we carried out simulations to optimize the expansion (which included photovoltaics + storage), and finally, we designed and engineered the solution using the highest quality brands available in the market. We concluded that the best area available to place the photovoltaic modules was around the staff houses and the new CRF roof, which also had considerable surface area. Reaching this point required extending the medium-voltage ring that the Uganda Unit already had. A total of 520 photovoltaic modules were installed on 7 roofs. As for the BESS, we opted to install a 300 kVA Power Conversion System (PCS) from the French manufacturer Socomec, along with a total of 930 kWh, divided into 5 outdoor cabinets of 186 kWh each, from one of the leading manufacturers of lithium iron phosphate, CATL. Last but not least, the entire solution is governed by a hybrid controller, which monitors the load at all times, the energy generated by the photovoltaic arrays, and the energy supplied by the grid or generators; this controller is also responsible for commanding the BESS, which will charge or discharge the battery according to the best possible strategy.

As mentioned earlier, to store the excess solar photovoltaic energy, we chose the manufacturer Socomec. This is a company with over 100 years of experience in energy conversion, monitoring, and electrical switching. Specifically, the selected solution was the “SUNSYS HES L,” an ESS specifically designed for outdoor environments and renewable energy applications. This solution uses 3 types of cabinets, which are more modular and use less space: an electrical distribution board (AC-Cab), an Energy Conversion Cabinet (C-Cab), and each of the battery cabinets (B-Cab). Being more modular allows the system to easily adapt as needs grow. Moreover, this solution supports configurations that are compatible with both grid-forming and grid-following applications. The C-Cab in this case consisted of six 50 kVA power modules, which can be hot-swapped (i.e., they can be replaced even with the system online) in case of maintenance.

In summary, the solar photovoltaic expansion carried out at the Uganda Unit of MRC/UVRI & LSHTM represents a significant step towards energy autonomy and carbon neutrality. By combining top-class photovoltaic solar module technology with the latest advances in lithium energy storage, this project ensures at least 45% of the center’s energy needs are met from a clean energy source and represents a reference model for future projects in the region.

The involvement of companies like Azimut 360, specialized in promoting sustainable energy solutions and developing projects that encourage a clean energy transition, has been key to the success and future replicability of this initiative, which paves the way towards a greener and more self-sufficient future.