Electrifying Rwanda: Why mini-grid companies have lost the game
"Rwanda’s goal to reach 100% electrification by 2024 relies heavily on off-grid electricity systems, like solar home systems and mini-grids. Based on my recent field research, this will be a tall order for burgeoning solar home system and, especially, mini-grid companies, who face a number of challenges to scale" - writes Churchill Agutu.
"Governments across the African continent aim to electrify 100% of their population by creating space for private companies to facilitate electricity access in a sector that has mostly been dominated by state-owned utilities. Rwanda, for instance, intends to reach 100% electrification by 2024, with 48% of those connections provided by the off-grid sector. The declining costs of solar PV panels and battery technology have made it possible for project developers to design and develop novel, affordable and scalable electrification approaches that can facilitate access to decentralised electricity and electricity-enabled services. Mini-grids (MG) and solar home system (SHS) companies are the two most likely suspects to provide those services".
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