The Universal Energy Facility uses the UEF Platform powered by Odyssey exclusively for all program activities. Submissions outside of the platform will not be accepted. 

Please read the guide thoroughly for instructions on how to submit a proposal to the Universal Energy Facility Program. 

In addition to this participation guide, please review the complete Odyssey user guides and FAQs to troubleshoot any issues, or reach out to the Odyssey support team via the support chat box in the bottom right corner of the application.

1. Review program information

If you have registered to participate in the program, you will be able to access all UEF information within the UEF Platform powered by Odyssey. You can see all program information by selecting the Finance tab and then selecting Universal Energy Facility from the Programs list. 

View program documents

1. Select the Finance > Programs tab from the left navigation bar

2. Navigate into the UEF ZEDSI  from the programs list

3. Click the Resources section

4. View and download the program documents

• Select the documents or folders you would like to download 

• Click the Download button

• Read all program documents thoroughly before submitting your program application to ensure that you understand all the requirements of the program.

5. Send any questions to the UEF admin in the Messages tab

2. Submit your project application

Applicants must describe in detail the site and mini-grid system design. To do so, Applicants will submit their mini-grid project on the UEF Platform:  

• Create a Project

• Navigate to the Assets section within the UEF program

• Select the Mini-grid option under Create a new claim. Learn more about Creating a Project. 

• On the Information tab, ensure "Universal Energy Facility - ZEDSI" is selected in the Program dropdown. This MUST be selected in order to submit to the Universal Energy Facility.

• Complete the project data modules

Complete the initial technical analysis for the project. Please read an overview of each project module as well as the UEF requirements (as stated in the UEF Operating Manual) for completing each module below. Detailed instructions for how to use each module can be followed in the pre-development user guides.

• Information

• The information module of the project contains the site information that was provided when creating the project. Learn more about completing your site information.

• You will also upload Site-Specific Project Application files in the Project Files tab for each project. You must upload the following files:

• If your generation manufacturers vary per site, upload data sheets related to each site here. 

• Load

• In the load module, you will provide information on the number and type of customers as well as the projected load profile. Learn more about creating a load assessment.

• Generation Design

• Once your load profile in Odyssey is complete, you can design a generation system.

• Odyssey is integrated with HOMER Energy to enable rapid system design based on your load assessment.  Learn more about designing your generation system

• UEF Requirement: The proposed generation design must have a load availability of at least 97% and renewable energy production of 60%, verified via the UEF Platform’s embedded HOMER module. If HOMER cannot be used, please provide other technical justification in the Files section of your mini-grid project.

• Distribution Design

• Input capital expenditures related to the distribution network and customer connections. Learn more about inputting distribution design costs.

• UEF Requirements: 

1. Upload the design of your distribution system in the Distribution Design Files section

2. Grantees must use customer metering solutions that can be integrated with the UEF Platform. This enables the UEF to remotely verify connections in an efficient and affordable manner.

• General Costs

• Input general costs related to site development and operating expenses. Learn more about tracking general costs.

• Revenue

• The Revenues module calculates your revenues based on your defined tariff structure and forecasted load profile. Learn more about entering your tariff structure.

• Financial

• In the Financials section, you will enter project-level sensitivities and account for ramping/growth rates for your load assessment. The financial page uses all the information you entered into Odyssey to calculate key financial metrics. Learn more about calculating project financials.
  
  

• Create your portfolio

• Navigate to the My Projects section of Odyssey

• Select the projects you want to include in your submission

• Navigate to the clipboard icon at the top of the page and click on Create Portfolio

• Name your portfolio and select the checkbox next to Create Portfolio for Financing (Tenders, RFPs, Investors)

• Click the Create button. Learn more about creating your portfolio.

Complete your portfolio

• Complete the form in the Business Plan section of the portfolio

• Upload the required documents in the portfolio Data Room.

Submit your application

• Navigate to the Portfolio Submission section of the portfolio 

• Click on Submit Proposal to submit your Project Application