A story of increasing love: Renewables & Africa (Rwanda).

Access to clean energy is an aspiration in many development goals - SDGs and Agenda 2063. Already today, various forms of renewable energies are affordable and a competitive source of energy; and research indicates that in the near future it’s cost will continue to decrease. (Prices for solar power have decreased 77 percent between 2010 and 2018). Africa, and its abundant sun, will of course be one of the biggest beneficiaries. Besides, Africa’s population is expected to rise from 1 billion in 2018 to 2 billion in 2050; making it a market everybody is looking at very closely. The IMF projects that the electricity demand would increase 3 percent annually.

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has a mandate to encourage participation, progress information, and advance the appropriation and economical utilization of renewable energy. It foremasts that with the appropriate policies, regulation, governance, and access to financial markets, sub-Saharan Africa could meet up to 67 percent of its energy needs by 2030, most through renewables (almost ½ by 2040).

Rwanda, intends to follow the trend and become a leading African force when it comes to renewables. On the 30th of May, Paul Kagame insisted: “This means incentivizing renewable energy and reducing subsidies for fossil fuels. In Rwanda, for example we are beginning the transition to electric vehicles as part of our journey toward carbon neutrality,”

Blessed with considerable solar radiation, calculated at around 5kWh/m2/day, Rwanda’s solar adoption is on a steady rise. For example, Rwanda’s total on-grid installed solar energy is 12.230 MW originating from 5 solar power plants. Namely, the Jali power plant generates 0.25MW, Rwamagana Gigawatt generates 8.5 MW, the Ndera Solar power plant generates 0.15MW, and the Nasho Solar plant generates 3.3 MW. While In 2019, already 14% of the population was getting electricity from Off-Grid Solar Home Systems. A trend on the rise.

At Klean-NRG, we aim to give access to renewable and accessible solar energy solutions to all those in Africa that are off-grid. We take full advantage of our freely given natural resource - the sun while using solar panels to create electricity since it is a clean energy source.