As we start the new year, we wanted to share some of the three biggest challenges we will likely face in 2026 when working with schools in Uganda that want to adopt electric cooking, based on the local context, energy systems, and institutional realities found during last year’s trial with induction cookers in one of our participating schools:
1. Unreliable Electricity Supply
Many schools, especially in rural and peri-urban areas, experience frequent power outages and voltage fluctuations. Electric cooking requires stable and sufficient power, and interruptions can disrupt meal preparation schedules, affecting students’ welfare and school operations.
2. High Upfront Infrastructure Costs
Electric cooking often requires:
Electrical upgrades (transformers, wiring, three-phase power, stabilizers)
Purchase of high-capacity electric induction stoves of 259 liter capacities.
These initial costs may be too high for schools with limited budgets, even if long-term savings exist.
3. Electricity Tariffs and Operating Costs
Although electric cooking can be cheaper than charcoal or firewood in the long run, schools may be concerned about:
Rising electricity tariffs
Unexpected monthly bills
This uncertainty can slow decision-making or reduce trust in the transition
We are working hard to adjust our registered project activity that has been recently approved to transition to Article 6.4, making sure the latest available methodology is used. Future carbon credit revenues can leverage the high upfront infrastructure costs.
In the meantime, we are also closely following up with the different ministries as a new school cooking tariff will be released, making electric cooking the cheapest available fuel.
