The Energy Systems Unit at the Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI) is dedicated to driving research, innovation, and commercialization of renewable energy technologies that support Uganda’s industrialization agenda. The Unit focuses on developing practical, scalable, and sustainable energy solutions that enhance productivity, reduce environmental impact, and improve livelihoods.
The Energy Systems Unit is guided by three core objectives:
Research, Development, Demonstration, and Deployment (RDD&D) of renewable energy (RE) technologies.
Development and acquisition of appropriate technologies and practices that ensure reliable and sustainable energy supply and utilization.
Bridging academia, government, and the private sector to facilitate commercialization of renewable energy innovations and research outcomes.
Through strong partnerships and industry-focused research, the Unit ensures that innovations move beyond the laboratory into practical application, benefiting enterprises, communities, and the national economy.
The Unit has conducted extensive research aimed at optimizing production parameters to enhance briquette quality and performance. This includes:
Optimization of carbonization and densification processes
Design and fabrication of appropriate briquette production technologies
Performance testing and quality enhancement strategies
Research findings are disseminated to briquette enterprises, community groups, and individual entrepreneurs through structured trainings, technical consultancies, and exhibitions. These interventions strengthen the capacity of local enterprises to produce high-quality, market-competitive briquettes while promoting sustainable biomass utilization and waste valorization.
To address post-harvest losses and improve value addition, the Unit promotes advanced solar drying technologies. These systems:
Accelerate drying rates compared to traditional open sun drying
Improve product quality, hygiene, and uniformity
Enhance shelf life of agricultural produce
Enable production of export-grade dried products
Solar drying solutions support agro-processing enterprises by improving product standards and increasing income opportunities, particularly for small and medium-scale processors.
Beyond technology development, the Energy Systems Unit plays a key role in national energy advancement through:
Promotion of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems through industry trainings and capacity-building programs
Participation in development of national energy standards in collaboration with the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS)
Active engagement in national Waste-to-Energy platforms, contributing to policy dialogue and technology solutions
Training and promotion of improved cook stoves, enhancing energy efficiency and reducing indoor air pollution
These activities position the Unit as a national leader in renewable energy research, policy support, and industrial application.
By integrating research excellence with practical deployment strategies, the Energy Systems Unit contributes to:
Industrial productivity and competitiveness
Environmental sustainability
Energy access and efficiency
Climate change mitigation
Enterprise development and job creation
The Unit remains committed to accelerating Uganda’s transition toward clean, affordable, and sustainable energy systems that drive inclusive economic growth.
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