By: The new times

The fifth Renewable Energy for Sustainable Growth (RE4SG) Conference and Exhibition, held from September 8 to 12 in Kigali, highlighted Rwanda's emergence as a continental leader in renewable energy adoption and a hub for innovation and investment.

The event, organized by the Energy Private Developers Association (EPD) in collaboration with the Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA), brought together policymakers, investors, and private sector leaders for dialogue, exhibitions, and field visits.

Under the theme “Empowering Africa’s Energy Future: Innovation, Transition, and Sustainability,” the conference aligned with Rwanda's national energy goals and Africa-wide initiatives like universal access to clean cooking by 2030.

Rwanda's Energy Progress and Ambitions

Officials highlighted Rwanda's significant progress. Michelle Umurungi of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) noted that electricity access has surged from 18 per cent in 2014 to over 80 per cent today, largely driven by renewables.

According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, the country's installed generation capacity has grown from 110 megawatts in 2014 to approximately 465 megawatts, with renewable sources—primarily hydro and solar—accounting for 56 per cent of the mix.

Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, State Minister in the Ministry of Infrastructure, outlined ambitious targets: “So far, we have an installed capacity of over 400 MW. Our ambition is to grow this to more than 3 GW by 2050, so that we can consistently meet the country’s development needs.” The immediate goal is to achieve 615 MW by 2030, with over 60 per cent from renewables.

Partnerships and Site Visits

A key outcome was a partnership agreement signed between EPD and the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency (LuxDev) to promote the use of improved cookstoves and sustainable biomass.

The conference included field visits to operational renewable energy sites, allowing delegates to see innovations firsthand. Tours included an e-bike assembly plant, an agri-photovoltaic project, hydropower and methane-to-power plants, and clean cooking manufacturing facilities.

The event concluded with the launch of a new project, “Enhancing Rwanda’s Power Sector Resilience through Grid Mix Optimisation and Integrated Modelling,” a collaboration between the World Resources Institute, the Ministry of Infrastructure, EPD, and academic institutions.

Organizers announced that the next edition of the conference will be held in Kigali in 2026.