The government of Rwanda has announced a partnership with ARC Power to expand energy access in the country.
The partnership will involve developing grid extensions and deploying grid-tied solar generation units, known as ARCs, across the country. The initiative will provide electricity to at least 40,000 households, schools, and health centers for the first time, significantly boosting Rwanda’s clean energy mix.
Under the agreement, ARC Power will work closely with the Rwanda Energy Group to pinpoint strategic locations for grid extensions and the installation of solar units. These units will harness Rwanda’s abundant solar resources to generate reliable, clean electricity, connecting a minimum of 400,000 people to power for the first time. This project will improve quality of life and stimulate economic growth.
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Sustainable energy solutions
Karl Boyce, CEO of ARC Power, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, that it demonstrates their shared commitment to driving positive change and promoting sustainable energy solutions.
The CEO of the Rwanda Energy Group also commented on the collaboration, emphasizing the transformative potential of the Strategic Power Partnership to revolutionize the country’s energy landscape.
Until 2004, Rwanda depended on a single energy source – hydropower – whose limited capacity relied on a dilapidated network with technical and commercial losses of around 30%, much of which is attributed to the lack of investment in the sector for the last 25 years. In the past years the country suffered suffered from acute electricity supply shortage and severe load shedding. Its installed generation capacity (mostly hydropower), has been severely constrained by regional drought leading to a rapid draw down of the reservoirs. The country has set ambitious targets for universal access to electricity by 2024. The plan includes grid expansion and off-grid solutions to ensure that even the most remote communities are electrified.
