The fifth edition of the Renewable Energy for Sustainable Growth (RE4SG) Conference and Exhibition, held from September 8 to 12, showcased Rwanda’s growing role as a continental leader in renewable energy adoption, and as a hub for innovation, investment, and partnerships in Africa’s energy transition. The conference and exhibition brought together hundreds of policymakers, investors, private sector leaders, and development partners at Norrsken House Kigali for dialogue, exhibitions, field visits, and landmark collaborations. The event was organised by the Energy Private Developers Association (EPD), in collaboration with the Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA), and in partnership with the University of Strathclyde, the Global Renewables Centre (GRC), and other stakeholders. The conference was followed by a day of site visits, highlighting Rwanda’s projects in renewable energy adoption. The first day was marked by the presence of high-level guests, including the Minister of State at MININFRA, representatives from the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), and the EU Delegation to Rwanda. Anchored under the theme “Empowering Africa’s Energy Future: Innovation, Transition, and Sustainability”, the gathering built on Rwanda’s national energy vision and Africa-wide ambitions such as Mission 300, NST2, and universal access to clean cooking by 2030. In his opening remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of EPD, Serge Wilson Muhizi, thanked delegates for their continued commitment and contributions towards shaping Africa’s energy future. Representing the Global Renewables Centre (GRC), Damien Frame, emphasised the importance of collaboration across borders to share best practices, foster innovation, and attract financing into clean energy projects. The EPD Executive Chairman, Ivan Twagirishema, hailed the Government of Rwanda for its leadership in creating an enabling environment for private sector growth in the energy sector. Michelle Umurungi, representing the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), highlighted Rwanda’s clean energy milestones—from only 18 per cent electricity access in 2014 to over 80 per cent today, largely driven by renewables. She also emphasised the country’s ambition to become a regional energy hub, tapping into opportunities in smart grids, green hydrogen, and e-mobility. Belen Calvo Uyarra, EU Ambassador to Rwanda, reinforced the bloc’s support for Rwanda’s universal access and renewable energy targets, pointing to ongoing partnerships in hydropower, methane-to-power, and clean cooking. According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, Rwanda’s installed generation capacity has grown from 110 megawatts in 2014 to approximately 465 megawatts today, with renewable sources—mainly hydro and solar—accounting for 56 per cent of the mix. The State Minister in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, who officially opened the conference, stressed Rwanda’s ambition to achieve 615 MW installed capacity by 2030, with more than 60 per cent from renewables. “So far, we have an installed capacity of over 400 MW. Our ambition is to grow this to more than 3 GW by 2050, so that we can consistently meet the country’s development needs,” he said. Following the opening session, dignitaries toured the exhibition space, where companies showcased solutions ranging from clean cooking stoves to solar energy systems, e-mobility, and sustainable fuels. The evening culminated in a business networking dinner and awards ceremony at the Four Points by Sheraton, where outstanding members, sponsors, and partners were recognised for their contributions to Rwanda’s clean energy sector. New project agreement On the sidelines of the conference, the Energy Private Developers Association (EPD) and the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency (LuxDev) signed an agreement to facilitate the SFERE project and increase the use of improved cookstoves and sustainable biomass in urban and peri-urban areas. Day three of Energy Week was dedicated to field visits, and giving participants a first-hand look at Rwanda’s renewable energy innovations. Delegates toured facilities including Eco Green Solutions Ltd and Safer 1 Ltd (pellet fuel and cookstove manufacturing), the SPIRO e-bike assembly plant and charging stations, the Nasho 3.3 MW agri-photovoltaic project, Keya Hydropower Plant, and the Shema Power methane-to-power plant on Lake Kivu. These visits highlighted how energy solutions are transforming industries, agriculture, and communities. The week concluded with a landmark collaboration between the World Resources Institute (WRI), the Ministry of Infrastructure, EPD, the University of Rwanda, and AIMS, to launch the “Enhancing Rwanda’s Power Sector Resilience through Grid Mix Optimisation and Integrated Modelling” project. The closing cocktail provided space for continued networking and matchmaking, with many participants noting the impact of new connections and partnerships formed. As the curtains fell on the 2025 edition, Energy Private Developers (EPD) called on participants to join the next Energy Week in 2026 in Kigali. Building on this year’s theme of “Empowering Africa’s Energy Future: Innovation, Transition, and Sustainability”, the next edition promises to deepen conversations, spotlight groundbreaking technologies, and expand opportunities for collaboration in Africa’s renewable energy future.
