Supporting access to environmentally friendly energy in Rwanda
Energising Development Rwanda
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Commissioning PartyGerman Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
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CofinancierDutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Directeur-generaal Internationale Samenwerking, DGIS), Norwegian Agency for Development (NORAD), Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), European Union (EU)
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Country -
Lead executing agencyMore
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Overall term2006 to 2025
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Products and expertiseSustainable infrastructure: water, energy, transport
Context
The Rwandan Government has ambitious goals for the energy sector: by 2024, it is envisaged that all households in the country have access to electricity. At the same time, they aim to reduce the number of households using inefficient stoves. So far, over 75 per cent of households have been connected to an electricity supply, but almost 70 per cent of the population still cook on open fires or using traditional stoves.
Objective
The population of Rwanda has access to affordable, reliable and environmentally friendly modern energy, enabling social, economic and environmental changes.
Approach
The ‘Reducing climate impact of cooking in Rwanda through improved cooking energy systems’ campaign is part of the project. This aims to assist with the production and distribution of climate-friendly cooking stoves and alternative fuels. The European Union is supporting the project with funds from the Global Climate Change Alliance Plus (GCCA+).
In addition, the project is working with companies via a special funding mechanism to give households access to renewable energies. Companies receive their grants only when they have achieved previously agreed results. Thanks to funding from UK Aid and USAID, over 10,000 people have received access to small solar plants and 630,000 people access to a solar home system.
Furthermore, the project increasingly focuses on supporting companies in using energy productively. In cooperation with the non-governmental organisation AVSI, the project has supported 97 small entrepreneurs and provided access to funding, business knowledge and electronic devices. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland, RVO) is also funding the testing of a business model for solar-powered cold stores at food markets in Rwanda.
The project has been working on hydropower since 2006 and has contributed to building small hydropower plants that feed into the national grid for the private sector. Three further plants are currently under development.
Last update: December 2022