The Government of Rwanda will commission their first 8.5 MW utility-scale solar PV power plant in East Africa in August 2014.
At present, less than one in five homes have electric connection in Rwanda. This project is supposed to increase production capacity by up to 8 percent and the project has already begun production of 20 percent in testing phase.
Scatec Solar, a Norwegian company, will be responsible for the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) of the plant. Remote Partners is the local management and support firm. The Norfund (Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries) and KLP provide funds for the project.
Gigwatt Global, a Dutch firm, is the developer of the project. Once the plant becomes operational, Scatec Solar will take the charge feeding electricity directly into the national grid. The price will be lower than for electricity generated by diesel fuel.
In early July, Silas Lwakabamba, Minister of Infrastructure, Rwanda paid a high-level delegation visit to Gigawatt Global Rwanda construction site, the utility-scale solar power plant located at eastern Rwanda.
Electricity generation and availability of electricity to all Rwandans is a challenge for the Government. This initiative to produce 8.5 MW of energy is a major milestone towards attaining self-sufficiency in clean energy, commented the Minister.
As part of the renewable energy development policy, the Government has begun promoting private sector involvement and private-public partnerships.