A portfolio development of small, run-of-river hydropower in Uganda

Small run-of-river hydropower schemes, developed in the right location with the right teams, can be very attractive to developers, investors and lenders. To make them even more attractive, a preferable option is to group together a portfolio of these schemes and use economies of scale in the planning, design and operational stages to make a cost-effective development plan. This approach was undertaken by Frontier Energy, the owner of six projects in Uganda that were developed and constructed over a period of 10 years up to 2021. All six projects are now commissioned. This paper provides details of the overall development, achievements, and challenges from the perspectives of the owner and the owner’s engineer.