Location

Gaborone, Botswana

Industry

Technology and Research

Installed Capacity

500 kWp

Yearly Energy Generated

802 MWh

Research Center in Botswana

Founded in 2012, BITRI operates under Botswana’s Ministry of Communications, Knowledge, and Technology, and is dedicated to research and development that addresses Botswana’s unique needs. BITRI’s mission is to create innovative and sustainable technology solutions that support national priorities, making use of local resources to keep them affordable and efficient. They focus on collaboration and co-creation, working closely with various organizations and institutions to ensure their solutions are impactful and relevant to the people of Botswana. Headquartered at Maranyane House in Gaborone, BITRI also has additional campuses in Gaborone, Kanye, and Palapye.

All About Sustainable Technology

BITRI sought to implement a complete renewable energy solution at their Gaborone headquarters to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and innovation. By integrating renewable technologies into their operations, BITRI not only reinforced their dedication to forward-thinking solutions but also set a powerful example of environmentally conscious practices in action.

Our Solution

To bring their vision to life, BITRI partnered with GRIPS for a complete, end-to-end renewable energy solution.

The system includes a 500 kWp solar PV capacity, consisting of three key components:

  • Roof-mounted solar system on the BITRI HQ building, the largest part of the system.
  • Carport structure with solar panels over the parking spaces, complete with an electric vehicle (EV) charger. This solution provides shade for parked cars and maximizes underutilized space.
  • PV panels with a single-axis solar tracker that follow the sun’s movement to optimize energy generation throughout the day.

PV Rooftop

PV Carport

EV Charging

Solar Tracker

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Igara PV plant:

Buhweju PV plant:

Location
in Uganda

Bushenyi District

Buhweju District

Installed
Capacity

499 kWp

425 kWp

Annual
Yield

854 000 kWh

692 000 kWh

Annual
CO2 savings

470 tonnes

380 tonnes

Igara and Buhweju

Igara Grower’s Tea Factory Ltd is a key player in Uganda’s tea industry, comprised of 7,000 smallholder farmers.

The company operates two tea processing facilities: Igara Tea Factory, the largest smallholder-owned tea factory in the country, and Buhweju Tea Factory, established in 2010 as Uganda’s only smallholder-owned tea factory since 1969.

Together, they contribute 10% of the nation’s total tea production, playing a vital role in both the local economy and Uganda’s agricultural landscape.

Igara wants to become a model business for similar small scale organisations, and wants to generate good income for their farmers and stakeholders in a sustainable manner.

Challenges

What was holding Igara back were several challenges, that both factories faced in their operations.

Firstly, frequent power cuts due to an unstable grid forced them to rely heavily on diesel generators, which not only interrupted production but also resulted in higher costs and damaged machinery.

Additionally, the factories face high energy consumption due to the energy-intensive nature of tea processing activities like drying and withering.

Lastly, despite the clear benefits of renewable energy, the high upfront investment required posed a significant barrier to adopting this sustainable energy solution.

Our Solution

GRIPS Energy addressed these challenges by installing two solar PV systems: 499 kWp at Igara and 425 kWp at Buhweju.

Both systems operate on-grid and off-grid, integrating with the existing diesel generators to ensure uninterrupted power, especially during grid outages.

Designed for self-consumption, the systems significantly reduced the factories’ dependence on diesel, lowered energy costs, and ensured reliable power for uninterrupted tea processing.

As with all our projects, GRIPS manages operations, maintenance, and monitoring, guaranteeing optimal system performance; while our customer can focus on growing their business.

GRIPS Project Scope

System design
and engineering

Full financing
of the project

20 year lease
agreement

Commissioning
of installation

24/7 monitoring

O&M for the whole contract period

Want to learn how your business can benefit from renewable energies?

Contact us, and our team of experts will be happy to assist you.

German Energy Solutions Initiative  

With the aim of positioning German technologies and know-how worldwide, the German Energy Solutions Initiative of the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) supports suppliers of climate-friendly energy solutions in opening up foreign markets. The focus lies on renewable energies, energy efficiency, smart grids and storage, as well as technologies such as power-to-gas and fuel cells. Aimed in particular at small and medium-sized enterprises, the German Energy Solutions Initiative supports participants through measures to prepare market entry as well as to prospect, develop and secure new markets.

Renewable Energy Solutions Programme (RES Programme)

With the RES programme, the German Energy Solutions Initiative of the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) helps German companies in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors enter new markets. Within the framework of the programme, reference plants are installed and marketed with the support of the German Energy Agency (dena). Information and training activities help ensure a sustainable market entry and demonstrate the quality of climate-friendly technologies made in Germany.

German Energy Agency (dena)

The German Energy Agency (dena) is a centre of excellence for the applied energy transition and climate protection. dena studies the challenges of building a climate-neutral society and supports the German government in achieving its energy and climate policy objectives. Since its foundation in 2000, dena has worked to develop and implement solutions and bring together national and international partners from politics, industry, the scientific community and all parts of society. dena is a project enterprise and a public company owned by the German federal government. dena’s shareholder is the Federal Republic of Germany.

The RES Uganda project supports GRIPS Energy in implementing communication, marketing and training activities in East Africa. This project is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action as part of the Renewable Energy Solutions Programme of the German Energy Solutions Initiative.

Location

Diama, Region of Saint Louis, Senegal

Installed Capacity

604 kWp

Energy Needs Covered by the System

45%

Annual CO2 Savings

300 tons

farming crops SCL

Farming Company

In the region of Saint Louis, Senegal, the Société des Cultures Légumières (SCL) is a thriving farm with around 2000ha of sweet corn, green beans, peppers, squashes, and onions destined for the local, subregional and European markets. Like many other local agricultural companies, SCL faced power challenges that affected their costs.

Challenges

Société des Cultures Légumières’s high energy-consuming activities, such as irrigation and cooling, led to exorbitant energy costs from the grid, affecting their financial stability and limiting sustainable growth. Finding a cost-effective and eco-friendly energy solution was essential to ensure their long-term commitment to sustainable agricultural practices.

Transitioning to renewable energy, in line with their sustainability commitments, was the best solution. However, this was a new field requiring specific expertise and know-how, both in terms of technicality and in the ability to manage such a project.

Photovoltaic Plant Inauguration Ceremony
Maire de Diama, M. Oumar Sow.
SCL General Director, M. Michael Laurent
German Ambassador, M. Sönke Siemo

Photovoltaic Plant Inauguration Ceremony:
Maire de Diama, Mr. Oumar Sow
SCL General Director, Mr. Michael Laurent
German Ambassador, Mr. Sönke Siemo

Solution

SCL contacted us to study possible solutions. From GRIPS Energy, we embarked on a comprehensive journey, starting with a full understanding of their needs. We tailored the renewable energy solution to meet SCL’s energy and financial requirements.

In collaboration with our local partner, we made their transition to green energy a reality.

Solution highlights:

  • Installed capacity: 604 kWp
  • Module type: JA Solar JAM S72S20 – 460 W
  • Inverter type: 110 KW Multi-String Inverter SMA STP CORE 2
  • Mounting system: PEG EW de JURCHEN TECHNOLOGY
  • Annual yield: 1040 MWh/an
  • Annual CO2 savings: 300 tons

Benefits

The impact was immediate and profound as the photovoltaic (PV) system, covering 45% of SCL’s electricity consumption, ensured a stable power supply that aligns with SCL’s sustainability goals, resulting in a substantial annual reduction of approximately 300 tons in CO2 emissions.

The implementation of a sustainable energy source facilitated a notable reduction in the farm’s electricity bills from day one, enhancing its financial stability.

From GRIPS, along with our local partner, we will operate and maintain the PV plant throughout its lifecycle, ensuring peak performance while SCL can focus on growing its business.

The success of this project is just the beginning of SCL’s journey toward greener energy solutions, as we actively explore options to expand the current system size and develop new projects to cover a higher percentage of energy needs by green energy supply.

PV system Senegal

Want to learn how your business can benefit from renewable energies?

Contact us, and our team of experts will be happy to assist you.

German Energy Solutions Initiative  

With the aim of positioning German technologies and know-how worldwide, the German Energy Solutions Initiative of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Action (BMWK) supports suppliers of climate-friendly energy solutions in opening up foreign markets. The focus lies on renewable energies, energy efficiency, smart grids and storage, as well as technologies such as power-to-gas and fuel cells. Aimed in particular at small and medium-sized enterprises, the German Energy Solutions Initiative supports participants through measures to prepare market entry as well as to prospect, develop and secure new markets.

Renewable Energy Solutions Programme (RES Programme) 

With the RES programme, the Energy Export Initiative of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Action (BMWK) helps German companies in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors enter new markets. Within the framework of the programme, reference plants are installed and marketed with the support of the German Energy Agency (dena). Information and training activities help ensure a sustainable market entry and demonstrate the quality of climate-friendly technologies made in Germany.

German Energy Agency (dena)

The German Energy Agency (dena) is a centre of excellence for the applied energy transition and climate protection. dena studies the challenges of building a climate-neutral society and supports the German government in achieving its energy and climate policy objectives. Since its foundation in 2000, dena has worked to develop and implement solutions and bring together national and international partners from politics, industry, the scientific community and all parts of society. dena is a project enterprise and a public company owned by the German federal government. dena’s shareholder is the Federal Republic of Germany. 

The RES Senegal project supports GRIPS Energy in implementing communication, marketing and training activities in West Africa. This project is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action as part of the Renewable Energy Solutions Programme of the German Energy Solutions Initiative.

Rivonia hybrid system

Rivonia Farm Products Ltd. is an independent Zambian SME, producing around 80 different types of food products for the Zambian market under its own brand Rivonia.

Rivonia is using the hybrid system – owned by GRIPS –  within a long-term leasing contract. The GRIPS system is operated parallel to the grid and supplies renewable energy for grid independent operation of the factory. Based on the GRIPS system Rivonia is able to continue its operation regardless of load shedding and power cuts.

Solution Highlights

  • Lease Contract
  • PV Generator (Canadian Solar Modules, SMA inverters)
  • Qinous Li-Ion Battery System (ESS)
  • Island system – parallel to grid and diesel generator