Off-grid energy access at 21% of Rwandan households

As of end of December 2023, the off-grid energy access rate was 21.4 per cent of all Rwandan households with access to electricity, Sangwa Jean Pierre, the Communication Manager at Rwanda Energy Group (REG), told The New Times on January 26 as the world celebrated International Day of Clean Energy. ALSO READ: Solar power is changing millions of lives; testimonials from the most remote villages in Rwanda International Day of Clean Energy serves as a call to raise awareness and mobilize action for a just and inclusive transition to clean energy – energy from renewable resources that are naturally replenished on a human timescale – for the benefit of people and the planet. According to REG’s report, currently off-grid energy access is at 21.7 per cent in Bugesera District, 13.7 per cent in Burera, 44.5 per cent in Gakenke, 1.9 per cent in Gasabo, 29.6 per cent in Gatsibo, 25.9 per cent in Gicumbi, 16.6 per cent in Gisagara and 22.4 per cent in Huye. ALSO READ: Off-grid energy sources key to Rwanda's push for universal power access The access rate is 25.2 per cent in Kamonyi, 31.5 per cent in Karongi, 30.9 per cent in Kayonza, 1.3 per cent in Kicukiro, 25.7 per cent in Kirehe, 27.0 per cent in Muhanga, 8.5 per cent in Musanze, 30.6 per cent in Ngoma, 30.1 per cent in Ngororero and 19.1 per cent in Nyabihu. The off-grid access is at 26.1 per cent in Nyagatare, 39.6 per cent in Nyamagabe, 25.4 per cent in Nyamasheke, 30.0 per cent in Nyanza, 0.8 per cent in Nyarugenge, 39.3 per cent in Nyaruguru, 6.2 per cent in Rubavu, 22.6 per cent in Ruhango, 31.2 per cent in Rulindo, 13.1 per cent in Rusizi, 29.4 per cent in Rutsiro, and 20.9 per cent in Rwamagana. ALSO READ: Over 1.5m new households connected to electricity since 2017 The government revised the National Electrification Plan (NEP) to augment the number of households connected to the national grid and bolster off-grid solutions. In general, by December 2023, Sangwa said, 74 per cent of all Rwandan households had access to electricity; comprising national grid and off-grid solutions. Households far away from the planned national grid coverage were encouraged to use alternatively cheaper connections such as mini-grids and solar photovoltaics (PVs) to reduce the cost of access to electricity whilst relieving constraints on historical government subsidies. Rwanda's revised National Electrification Plan seeks to connect 52 percent of households to the national grid and allocate 48 percent to off-grid solutions, which include Stand Alone Solar Systems (SAS) and micro-grids. REG officials say there are ongoing discussions with stakeholders to explore funding possibilities, ensuring that all unconnected villages and their productive users gain access to electricity before the end of June 2024. Rwanda's investment in renewable energy is anticipated to reduce total emissions by 4.6 million tonnes, or 38 percent, by 2030, in line with its national commitments to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Clean cooking energy The government has urged residents to embrace subsidized clean cooking technologies. These innovative solutions aim to alleviate pressure on forests throughout the country. The initiative to subsidize improved cookstoves is projected to cost Rwf20 billion. This subsidy aims to enhance the accessibility of clean cooking technologies by reducing system prices, particularly for the lowest income segments of Rwanda's population. Funded in part by the World Bank’s Clean Cooking Fund, this subsidy will benefit approximately over two million people, providing them with access to clean cooking technologies. Rwanda aims to decrease its dependence on wood fuel and charcoal in cooking to 42 percent by 2024. Presently, 25 companies are registered to supply improved cookstoves countrywide, with 12 companies already engaged in distribution. Rwanda is also constructing a $530m natural gas plant to produce compressed natural gas for cooking, vehicles and industries, from Lake Kivu’s methane gas.

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Off-grid energy access at 21% of Rwandan households