Rwanda: Govt Sets Its Eyes On Alternative Energy
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Focus Media (Kigali)
18 July 2008
Posted to the web 18 July 2008
Given the energy deficit in Rwanda as well as the rest of the East African countries—an issue which was highlighted during the recent East African investment conference—Rwanda is increasingly looking at alternative sources of energy to power the country.
Currently, only 5% of Rwanda's population has access to electricity, but the government has set the target of 16% by 2012 and 35% - 40% in 2020. To achieve this, the government has to focus not only on additional production, but also to take into account the possibilities, and limitations, for distribution.
Considering the cost of the extension of the traditional electricity grid, the government through the ministry of infrastructure is increasingly examining alternative sources such as solar power, geothermal, biogas, methane gas as well as wind, especially for rural areas which so far have no connection to the electricity grid.
Solar energy is becoming ever more important in electricity generation. Even though solar photovoltaic cells still remain relatively expensive, solar-powered systems used for water heating are becoming more affordable and thus gaining ground.
Solar energy in Rwanda has also been exploited in recent decades by local and international organizations for the electrification of churches, schools and households in rural areas. However the relatively high cost of solar systems is still a barrier to their widespread use.
However, it remains a viable option for areas that are not connected to the national grid and that have no potential for micro hydro plants. It is also highly useful for smaller communities such as schools, hospitals and health centers, as well as administrative centers.
For this reason, the five-year economic development and poverty reduction strategy (EDPRS) targets to have solar systems installed in all health centers, 50% of the schools as well as all administrative centers in the country. Individual households can also benefit from these projects, although they will have to contribute to get connected.
Another sign of Rwanda's commitment to solar energy is the fact that it is home to the largest solar plant in Africa, located on Mount Jali on the outskirts of Kigali, and constructed by the ministry of infrastructure with the support of the Stadtwerke Mainz, the power utility of the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The first phase of the project, called Kigali Solaire, was inaugurated in June last year.
The solar plant currently feeds 250 KW into the grid, but there are plans to expand the plant to a 1 MW capacity. Electrogaz technicians have also been trained to take care of the maintenance of this system.
Electricity from cows
Another alternative source of energy currently being used is biogas. The national domestic biogas program (NDBP) aims to install at least 15,000 biogas digesters in rural households by 2011.
Small biogas digesters using cow-dung are already installed in several households, where they provide sufficient energy for cooking and lighting. The program is boosted by the national 'zero-grazing' policy, which requires people to keep their cattle in a pen, thus making the cow-dung available close to the household.
On top of that, the one-cow-per-family program will enable more people to actually benefit from the biogas program. So far 103 biogas digesters have been installed in households in Ruhango, Gasabo, Kamonyi, Rulindo and Gicumbi districts.
Most digesters are made from bricks and stones, but a pilot project using more efficient fiberglass digesters is currently implemented in Kirehe district, where Chinese engineers are training technicians in installing the prefabricated digesters. The technology has the added advantage that the installation takes less time.
For some time now, biogas has also been used in prisons and schools, where it is produced with waste from the latrines. Rwanda has even gained international recognition for its achievement, which has reduced the costs of cooking in prisons by 50%. It has at the same time solved the big environmental problem caused by the overflow of human waste. The government is now considering expanding this technology to more schools and hospitals.
For the construction of domestic biogas installations, the government offers technical assistance to households as well as subsidies worth Frw 200,000. The families themselves contribute by digging pits and providing sand and stones. The government has also set up a credit scheme in Banque populaire specifically for the biogas program.
Volcanic regions
The use of geothermal energy-using the earth's internal heat, which is possible especially in volcanic areas- in Rwanda is still in its preliminary stages. The French bureau BRGM (Bureau de Recherche Géologique et Minière) has estimated the geothermal energy potential between 170 and 300 megawatts, based on work carried out at a hydrothermal spring in the western part of the country.
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Read comments. Write your own.
Wow, this sounds brilliant! 95 by 95 doesn't seem too big and one thing we do have in Africa is heat!! I suppose what's keeping us from getting there is cost? Sounds like a great scheme though.
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This is an excellent summation of the variety of efforts that Rwanda is taking to meet their energy needs with alternative sources of power. Thank you for bringing all of this information together so completely and accurately.
The one thing that is missing and could supply all the energy needs, not only for Rwanda, is the use of Thermal Solar Power. A 95 miles by 95 miles area in one of Africa's deserts (or southern part of Rwanda) could supply all of the energy needs for the entire continent. They are starting to build them in The… [Read Full Text]