ENGIE Energy Access is part of the global ENGIE Group, focusing on off-grid solar energy, Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGo) solutions, and mini-grids in Uganda. Their mission is to provide affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy to communities without reliable access to grid electricity, including remote areas and refugee settlements.

Products & Services

Solar Home Systems (SHS): These range from small 10 W systems for lighting and phone charging to larger ~200 W setups capable of running household appliances.

PAYGo Financing: Customers pay in installments, often through mobile money, making solar kits affordable for lower-income households.

Mini-grids: Designed for communities where individual home systems are insufficient, supporting businesses and communal services.

Impact & Reach in Uganda

Active in refugee settlements such as Kiryandongo and Rwamwanja, serving both refugee and host communities.

Uses local sales agents embedded in communities to distribute solar kits.

Offers flexible payment plans (daily, weekly, or monthly), making energy access more inclusive for people with irregular incomes.

Operations & Team

Head office is in Kampala, with regional operations across the country.

The management team includes roles such as Country Director, and heads of commercial, operations, finance, customer experience, and human resources.

The workforce is nearly gender balanced, with hundreds of full-time employees.

Challenges

Affordability: Even with flexible financing, upfront deposits and maintenance can be difficult for very low-income households.

Distribution in Remote Areas: Logistics and after-sales services are harder to maintain in rural and settlement locations.

Financing Needs: Scaling operations requires significant working capital for stock, distribution, and customer support.

Customer Credit Risk: PAYGo models carry risks of default, especially where incomes are unstable or households are highly mobile.

Opportunities

Refugee and Host Communities: Large populations with limited grid access present growth potential.

Impact Finance: Grants, donor support, and green finance can help bridge costs and enable scale.

Government Partnerships: Supportive policies and incentives could accelerate adoption of off-grid solutions.

Technology Innovation: Advances in solar panel efficiency, battery storage, and digital monitoring can reduce costs and improve reliability.

Key Figures

ENGIE Energy Access operates across nine Sub-Saharan countries, including Uganda.

Over 1 million customers served regionally, transforming the lives of about 6 million people.

Targeting tens of millions more by expanding solar kits, financing options, and mini-grid solutions.