URPC supports direct farm operations including:
• Irrigation (pumps, pivots, boosters)
• Post-harvest handling at farm level (sorting, basic handling loads)
• Farmstead power (lighting, security, offices, staff housing)
• Electric fencing and perimeter security loads
Agro-processing (cold storage hubs, drying lines, milling and industrial processing) is covered under the Agro-processing solutions section.
Farms are exposed to:
• Unreliable supply during critical irrigation windows
• Voltage fluctuations that damage motors and control panels
• High diesel costs for pumping and backup
Solar PV and hybrid PV+BESS solutions reduce diesel dependency and improve operational continuity.
We capture:
• Water source: borehole, river, lake, dam
• Static/dynamic head (if known) and pipe run distance
• Irrigation method: drip, flood, sprinkler, centre pivot
• Operating duration: hours/day and seasonal profile
• Pump data: kW/HP rating, starter type (DOL/VFD), nameplate photo
This is the fastest route to correct pump and system sizing.
Yes, Centre pivots and large pumps require correct engineering for:
• Motor starting and surge control
• VFD/soft-starter compatibility (where required)
• Power quality and protection coordination
• Hybrid operation when irrigation runs beyond daylight hours
We typically request:
• Acreage and field layout (helps estimate irrigation scale and expansion)
• Top produce selection (e.g., maize, rice, beans, matooke/banana, mango, pineapple, vegetables, sugarcane, coffee, horticulture)
• Operating seasonality and harvest windows
• Address + Google Maps pin (optional pin, but strongly recommended)
• Relationship of the originator (owner/manager/employee/agent)
Acreage helps with context, but PV sizing is driven by:
• Pump power and hours
• Irrigation mode and duty cycle
• Water head and flow requirements
• Additional farm loads
Acreage alone is not enough to size power, but it improves screening and planning.
As a planning rule, 1 kWp of PV typically requires ~6–10 m² of usable area depending on layout, access paths, tilt, and shading constraints.
If farm space is limited near the pump house, URPC can assess:
• Ground-mount near the load centre
• Distributed PV arrays (if cabling and protections are appropriate)
• Agrivoltaics (see below) to combine farming and PV footprint
Agrivoltaics is installing PV on taller structures to allow farming activity beneath (crop growth, grazing, access paths). It helps where land is valuable and you want to:
• Generate power while maintaining productive use of land
• Reduce heat stress for certain crops (site-dependent)
• Improve land-use efficiency
URPC evaluates agrivoltaics feasibility based on crop type, mechanisation, shading tolerance, and structural economics.
Yes—batteries are used where they improve outcomes, for example:
• Irrigation outside sunlight hours
• Backup during grid cuts to protect crops
• Motor and controls stability (power quality support)
Battery sizing is profile-driven (pump runtime, duty cycle, and critical load coverage).
Yes, where appropriate. Grid-charging can be used to:
• Ensure irrigation continuity during low solar periods
• Reduce the PV capacity required solely for charging storage
This is configured through control logic aligned to the farm operating schedule and cost profile.
Yes, For farms with gensets, hybrid controls can reduce diesel runtime and prioritise solar, while keeping the generator as a resilience layer during peak irrigation or extended poor weather.
Recommended inputs:
• Any electricity bills (if grid connected)
• Pump nameplates and control panel photos
• Generator size and estimated diesel spend (if applicable)
• Photos of available PV installation areas
• Farm address + Google Maps pin
• Irrigation schedule (hours/day) and months of operation
Indicative outputs include:
• Estimated power requirement based on pump and schedule
• Recommended PV sizing and optional storage sizing
• Indicative installed cost (PV-only and PV+BESS options)
• Estimated diesel displacement and operating cost reduction (if applicable)
• Financing scenarios where relevant (screening-level)
All outputs are indicative until site verification.
URPC works with financing stakeholders and partner institutions where available. Initial screening may request:
• Ownership status and site control (lease/title)
• Basic turnover/production value indicators (range)
• Commitment to O&M where financed
Final eligibility is confirmed after technical and commercial validation.
For financed systems, O&M is typically mandatory for the tenor. Even for self-funded systems, structured O&M protects yield and uptime, including routine cleaning (dust) and preventive checks on pumps and protections.
Timelines depend on system size, access, civil works, approvals (if grid-interactive), and equipment lead times. URPC follows a controlled pathway: intake → assessment → design → procurement → installation → commissioning → O&M.
Submit the agricultural (farm) calculator with pump details, irrigation schedule, and site location. URPC will confirm next steps and schedule a technical assessment.
Phone/WhatsApp: +256 709 777 770
Main Office & CCC: IDA Close, Tank Hill By-Pass, Kasanga, Kampala, Uganda
Operational Office: HT37 Ham Towers, Makerere Hill Road, Makerere, Kampala, Uganda
