There is a need to mobilize more resources from partners to increase the uptake of solar water heaters, which promise to cut energy costs and carbon emission, according to the Ministry of Environment. Rwanda’s 10-year climate pledges, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which are currently being revised, show that the country needs $52 million to support the installation of solar water heaters in urban residential buildings. ALSO READ: Rwanda needs $1.37bn to reduce charcoal use by half This will be supported by the use of loans and grants to subsidize purchase costs as part of the National Green Building Code minimum compliance system. The country also needs $8 million for the ‘support programme’ aimed at reducing reliance on material and energy consumption, including energy imports. ALSO READ: Why Rwanda is updating its energy policy Thadee Twagirimana, the acting director of environment and climate change in the Ministry of Environment, said that increased uptake of solar water heaters is one of the climate change mitigation technologies that will help Rwanda reduce carbon emissions by 38 percent by 2030. This target is part of its NDCs, which will be submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change early next year. Mitigation measures in the energy sector could help reduce 1.53 megatonnes of carbon emissions, with solar water heaters contributing 3 percent, according to the climate action plan. “We see that 79 percent of Rwandans still rely on firewood and charcoal for energy sources, which pose threats to forests and trigger respiratory diseases. Solar water heaters will reduce dependence on biomass energy,” Twagirimana said. ALSO READ: Rwanda’s new $300 million clean energy project unveiled He stressed the need to reduce dependence on biomass energy as more 25 solar water heaters were officially handed over to 13 SMEs in agro-processing, food production, the baking industry, and the hotel industry on Monday, December 27. The solar water heaters were distributed by the Ministry of Environment in partnership with the Cleaner Production and Climate Innovation Centre, with the support of United Nations Development Programme. Twagirimana emphasized the need to raise awareness among private sector players about the benefits of using renewable energy in their operations. “We can’t achieve a green economy without engaging the private sector,” he noted. Jonas Niyirema, a technical engineer in charge of energy efficiency at the Cleaner Production and Climate Innovation Centre, said that the solar water heaters for the 13 SMEs could reduce carbon emissions by more than 1,500 tonnes annually. “The businesses will be able to save Rwf3.7 million per month, which was previously being spent on firewood, charcoal, and briquettes. The uptake of solar water heaters has also reduced exposure to pollution from firewood and charcoal while saving forests,” Niyirema said. Ernestine Tuyishimire, the quality manager at Buganza Good Wine, said the company was using about five cubic meters (steres) of firewood worth Rwf100,000 per day. “Today, we are using less than one stere of firewood to heat water, which is a significant reduction in energy costs for us,” she noted. Jean-Damascène Nshimiyimana, the manager of Centre d'Accueil Avega Agahozo Rwamagana, said they used to spend Rwf600,000 on electricity bills per month to heat water. “The same amount has been saved since we started using solar energy,” he noted. Dominique Byiringiro, a representative of New Vision Bakery, said the solar water heaters would reduce the use of firewood and charcoal by 45 percent, translating into savings of Rwf35-50 million per year. A total investment of $1.37 billion is needed by 2030 to achieve the government's target of reducing charcoal use from 83% to 42% of the population.
