Presenting SUNNY’s 2nd Demo Site in Uganda’s Bidibidi Refugee Settlement: Empowering Resilience with Renewable Energy |

Presenting SUNNY’s 2nd Demo Site in Uganda’s Bidibidi Refugee Settlement: Empowering Resilience with Renewable Energy

A new assessment conducted as part of the SUNNY Work Package 2 (WP2) provides insights into dry waste production, recycling behavior, and local market dynamics in two key sites: Mahama Camp in Rwanda and Bidibidi Settlement in Uganda, along with their surrounding host communities. The study contributes to broader efforts aimed at fostering sustainable waste management practices and enabling circular value chains in humanitarian contexts. With support from CTEN and Makerere University (UMAK) in Uganda. And, Practical Action (PA), CTEN and University of Rwanda, field data collection in both locations combined Semi-Structured Questionnaires (SSQ), Key Informant Interviews (KII), and Mapping (MAP) activities.

Image: Waste picker in Mahama Camp – KII

In many refugee-hosting regions across Africa, waste management systems remain underdeveloped or non-existent, especially when it comes to dry waste. Plastics, textiles, paper, and metal often accumulate without proper disposal pathways, contributing to environmental and public health risks. While most interventions have focused on food and shelter, solid waste -especially non-biodegradable materials- is becoming a critical concern in long-term displacement settings.

Observed practices
Preliminary findings indicate that plastic waste, primarily from food packaging, water sachets, bottles, and household containers, is the most common form of dry waste in both Mahama and Bidibidi. Other categories include textiles (clothing), paper, and some scrap metal.
In both sites, dry waste is generally not segregated at source. In Uganda, it is either burned, buried, or dumped in open spaces near homes or in informal pits. While in Rwanda, with the support of UNHCR and World vision, a system is put in place. Community members reported taking their mixed waste to specific collection sites scattered around the camp. As also observed, many residents from the host community also use the same dumping points as there is no collection service.

Recycling behavior and repair market
The study also explored community attitudes toward recycling and reuse. Across both camps, there is some awareness of the potential benefits of recycling, particularly among youth and informal small-scale traders. For instance, in Uganda they are identified as ‘KiloKilo’ and ‘ChumaChuma’, they mostly collect hard plastic and mixed metals, while in addition to that, ‘injemini’ in Rwanda collect rubber shoes known as ‘sweeties’. Five informal traders were sampled in Rwanda, and eight in Uganda. Those traders rely heavily on waste pickers which usually travel by foot or on a bike and go around the villages to recover recyclables from community members in exchange of a small incentive. One shared that prices are inconsistent, and despite the logistical barrier that make it difficult to scale up collection and resale operations, there is untapped market for recycling streams.

Both refugees and host community members in both sites identified existing repair providers operating inside and outside the camp. Some participants referenced locations and moving sellers where second-hand goods could be purchased or repaired, though their operations remain informal and irregular. These findings suggest that the current repair and reuse ecosystems are informal and underutilized, yet present an important opportunity to divert materials from landfills and extend product lifecycles.
The findings from Mahama and Bidibidi highlight the potential and the limitations of introducing circular waste solutions in refugee settings. While dry waste is abundant and there is growing community interest, any intervention must address the infrastructural gaps, social perceptions, and market constraints. Through SUNNY, ReFuse, is working to support the adoption of SUNNY technologies while leveraging its expertise in developing circular value chains to shift recyclables from landfills. The focus of the WP2 field visits will be on two key actions:
(1) Empower existing and/or new local entrepreneurship projects/ initiatives (building market based solutions)
(2) Advise a waste management plan together with the development organisations working in the camps, Local authorities, and community members.
At ReFuse, we believe value can be created anywhere, especially in places where others only see garbage, because we refuse to call it waste, we make it valuable

January 14, 2025

Access to clean and sustainable energy is not just a technical challenge; it’s a fundamental aspect of improving lives.

In the face of displacement and resource scarcity, access to sustainable energy is a cornerstone for building resilience, promoting livelihoods, and ensuring dignity. At the Bidibidi Refugee Settlement in Northwest Uganda, the SUNNY project is implementing innovative renewable energy solutions to address these pressing challenges and explore their impact across the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus.

Home to 270,000 displaced persons—primarily fleeing civil war in South Sudan—Bidibidi is one of the largest refugee settlements in the world. With no access to the national electric grid, both refugees and the surrounding host communities rely heavily on expensive, unreliable, and environmentally harmful energy sources. Through collaboration with partners UMAK, META, SOLHYD, AKO, and SOLEK, SUNNY is bringing sustainable solutions that integrate energy, food security, and agricultural productivity to unlock a brighter future.

The Energy and Development Context in Bidibidi

Since its establishment in 2016, Bidibidi has faced significant challenges in meeting its energy needs:

Limited Energy Access: Refugees and local host communities rely on costly fuel-powered generators, biomass, and small solar systems for basic needs.

Impact on Healthcare and Education: Health centers and schools struggle with inadequate power.

Food Insecurity: The region’s dependence on subsistence farming and limited irrigation systems makes agriculture vulnerable to weather variability.

Environmental and Economic Strains: Heavy reliance on biomass leads to deforestation, while expensive fuel for generators burdens local businesses and households.

SUNNY’s approach combines biogas, hydrogen cooking, cold storage, and smart solar irrigation to address these challenges. The project aims to improve energy access while fostering sustainable economic growth and food security

SUNNY Project Objectives and Vision

SUNNY aims to demonstrate clean energy solutions while assessing their environmental, social, and economic impact. Our core goals are to:

Reduce Carbon Footprint by shifting from firewood and diesel.

Enhance Safety with cleaner, safer cooking and energy options.

Empower Communities by boosting economic opportunities and gender equality.

Promote Climate Resilience through sustainable energy models for displaced populations worldwide.

Demonstrated Solutions at Bidibidi

1- Biogas systems

Biogas technology converts organic waste into clean, sustainable cooking fuel. SUNNY is testing. At Bidibidi, the SUNNY team is testing the efficiency and stability of biogas systems tailored to the local context :

Reliability: Real-time gas meters track performance to ensure consistency.

Efficiency: Monitoring organic input rates, gas production, and system stability.

2- Combined Hydrogen and biogas cookstoves

Cooking remains one of the primary energy demands in refugee settlements. The SUNNY project is introducing hybrid cookstoves capable of using hydrogen, biogas, and LPG, offering a versatile, clean cooking alternative for households.

Performance and versatility: Fuel-switching flexibility and energy efficiency.
Safety and Usability: Trials ensure the stoves are practical, safe, and user-friendly for households.

3- Refrigerated Food Storage

The SUNNY project is addressing food security challenges by introducing energy-efficient cold storage systems. Developed by AKO, these systems preserve perishable goods, reduce food waste, and support local agricultural businesses.

Community Impact: By extending the shelf life of perishable produce, cold storage solutions will empower farmers and businesses to reduce losses, access new markets, and improve incomes.

Energy Efficiency: Ensuring optimal performance with minimal energy consumption.

Reliability and Usability: Systems will be evaluated for ease of use, temperature consistency, and durability under local conditions.

4- Smart solar irrigation

Water management is critical for agricultural productivity, particularly in regions like Bidibidi, where farming is the main economic activity. SUNNY is implementing solar-powered irrigation systems that maximize water efficiency while integrating renewable energy solutions :

Standardization: Developing protocols for seamless interoperability among renewable energy systems to enhance integration and scalability.

WEF (Water-Energy-Food) Nexus Analysis: SUNNY is analyzing how smart irrigation systems, combined with energy-efficient cold storage and clean cooking technologies, contribute to sustainability and resilience.

Remote Monitoring: Real-time data analytics will optimize irrigation schedules, cooking efficiency, and cold storage performance.

Energy Sharing: Surplus solar energy from irrigation systems will be studied for its potential to power hydrogen production, creating synergies across technologies.

Why It Matters: a Transformative Impact

The SUNNY demonstration site at Bidibidi delivers benefits across key areas:

Energy Access: Clean, affordable reliable energy for homes, health centers, schools, and businesses.

Food Security: Smart irrigation and cold storage reduce food losses and improve productivity.

Economic Empowerment: Farmers and local entrepreneurs access opportunities to expand businesses and their incomes.

Environmental Sustainability: Lower biomass and fuel usage mitigate deforestation and carbon emissions.

Resilient Communities: By addressing energy, food, and economic needs, SUNNY fosters long-term stability and self-reliance.

A Model for the Future

The Bidibidi demonstration site highlights the transformative potential of renewable energy to address interconnected challenges in refugee settlements and surrounding communities. By integrating clean energy solutions across the WEF nexus, SUNNY is paving the way for scalable, sustainable models that can be replicated in similar contexts worldwide.