Africa’s leading bio-digester manufacturing company; Sistema.bio, in partnership with Native Energy has today launched its biggest bio-digester carbon program in Uganda.
The program, otherwise referred to as the Uganda Dairy Biogas Program, is set to benefit small and medium dairy farms across the country.
Sistema.bio and Native Energy’s partnership is expected to avoid over 1.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions over the project’s life.
The biodigester carbon program consists of a further partnership with local dairy organizations and businesses. This partnership contemplates an innovative and impactful plan that will make biogas plants more accessible to local farmers.
The project’s implementing partners in Uganda will reach out to the farmers in Central, Mount Elgon, and South Western regions, install the biodigesters for them and offer them after-sales services.
According to Alex Eaton, the CEO and Co-founder of Sistema.bio, under the fruitful program, farmers will be offered flexible repayment plans and comprehensive monitoring services.
“An urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership and Up to 36,000 new farmers will be helped to acquire and operate biodigesters to collect and treat farm waste, get clean biogas and rich biofertilizer, and have access to clean energy,” he said.
He further noted that Sistema.bio’s work was well aligned with the goals of Uganda’s Climate Agenda and the recently announced East Africa Biodigester Component Program from SNV. It is based on this alignment with the country’s and region’s climate and biodigester programs that Eaton was excited that the program would offer critical funding, technology and long-term services to meet the goals set by Uganda and East Africa.
“Sistema.bio is aligned with the goals of Uganda’s Climate Agenda and the recently announced East Africa Biodigester Component Program from SNV. For this reason, the partnership adds critical funding, technology and long-term services to meet such goals,” says Alex Eaton.
Alex Eaton while addressing the press
The benefits generated by biodigesters contribute to 9 out of the 17 SDGs: SDG 1 (No Poverty) SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG3 (Good Health and well-being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG8 (Decent work and Economic Growth), SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG15 (Life On-Land).
This type of project is core to what Native does, supporting innovative companies like Sistema. Bio that is having both a measurable GHG emission reduction while also showing progress towards several SDGs. We are thrilled to be expanding our partnership with Sistema.bio in Uganda and continuing to support such important work,” said Nell Achtmeyer, Native’s Vice President.
Sistema.bio, the leading global prefabricated biogas enterprise for small-holder farmers, has been piloting the technology in Uganda for over five years. The company is now excited to expand its work by bringing the biodigester technology to more Ugandan farmers from the USD 10m funding injected to run this program.
Sistema.bio will provide the patented biodigester technology and customer support services whilst Native Energy will provide the financing mechanisms for the program. The implementation partners will contact the farmers, install the biodigesters and provide after-sales services.
Sistema bio is a social enterprise that works through three axes: technology, capacity building and financing to address poverty, food security, and climate change. It manufactures and distributes high-quality, affordable, and modular hybrid biodigesters that enable farmers worldwide to be energy-efficient and fertilizer-independent. By providing flexible repayment plans and comprehensive monitoring services. Farmers can acquire and operate biodigesters to collect and treat farm waste, resulting in clean biogas and rich biofertilizer. Sistema.bio aims to deliver clean energy and organic fertilizer to over 36,000 new farms.
Sistema.bio is the 2019 Ashden Clean Cooking Awards winner, Schwab Foundation Social Innovation awardee by the World Economic Forum, and the 2017 Buckminster Fuller Institute Finalist. Alex Eaton CEO and Co-founder is an Ashoka and Endeavor Fellow since 2011.
NATIVE ENERGY
Native Energy is a public benefit corporation that works to catalyze meaningful climate action that is community-led and landscape-scale, at a pace necessary to preserve and restore ecosystems and livelihoods around the world. Native focuses on climate actions that face barriers and brings over twenty years of experience implementing clean drinking water, on-farm methane capture, community solar, avoided grassland conversion and regenerative grazing projects in collaboration with local partners and experts.
ECOSAFE CONSULTS UGANDA LTD
Ecosafe is an environmental, health & safety consultancy that was established in 2018 and is based in Kyaliwajalia, Kira municipality, Wakiso district. Its goal is to provide their clients with scientifically valid health, IT, safety and environmentally sound, state-of-the-art services in a timely, cost-effective manner.
UCCU
Uganda Crane Creameries Cooperative Union (UCCCU) is a tertiary cooperative that brings together dairy farmers In Uganda. UCCCU was registered as a Limited Co-operative Union in 2005. They are currently active in the 12 districts of South and mid -Western Uganda where their membership stands at 18,506 members in 140 primary cooperatives societies and 10 district unions. UCCCU produces over 700,000 litres daily and market 300,000 formally.
BOLD ENERGY LIMITED (BEL)
BEL is an energy-focused manufacturing, trading and consultancy company incorporated in Uganda to stimulate renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies for SMEs, government agencies and households. Their work aims at promoting access to clean energy and increasing conversion to renewable sources of energy in Uganda. BEL is a provider of energy services and products to meet the unique needs of individuals, businesses, institutions and government agencies. In line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7, Bold Energy seeks to create access to affordable, reliable, efficient and clean energy for everyone.
SEBEI SACCO
Sebei provides savings solutions to farmers as well as affordable and diversified credit services. They have thousands of members, mostly farmers and opérate in the Eastern Uganda region.
