Rwanda is aggressively pursuing complete national electricity coverage, a critical component for national development, supported by a comprehensive financial and technological strategy. The Rwandan Government, via the Ministry of Infrastructure, unveiled an ambitious energy policy in February 2025, outlining a $4 billion investment plan intended to power the country's economic growth and significantly improve the standard of living for all citizens by the end of the decade.
The nation has already demonstrated substantial progress toward this goal. As of May 2025, household electricity access reached an impressive 83.2 percent. This connectivity is strategically split, with 58.3 percent of homes connected to the main national grid and an additional 24.9 percent utilizing decentralized off-grid solar solutions. This blended approach emphasizes both strengthening central infrastructure and empowering localized power generation for resilience.
A recent milestone in this expansion was the commissioning of an 8.5 MW solar power facility near Lake Mugesera. This project immediately increased the nation's generation capacity by 6 percent, bringing electricity to more than 15,000 homes. The installation features 28,360 sun-tracking panels, which boost operational efficiency by 20 percent. Looking ahead, nearly 1,000 schools are scheduled for electrification by the close of 2025, directly linking energy policy to educational advancement.
The long-term vision, guided by the Least Cost Power Development Plan (2024–2050), projects the integration of an additional 1,492.85 MW of installed solar photovoltaic capacity, complete with battery storage, by 2050. This focus on storage is key to addressing the inherent variability of solar power. To realize these objectives, an estimated $3.6 billion is required by 2035, with a target set for 65 percent of the energy mix to come from renewables by 2035. Currently, solar accounts for only about 1 percent of the total 406 MW installed capacity, which is heavily reliant on hydropower at approximately 39 percent.
Experts highlight Rwanda's high solar irradiance, averaging 4.5 kilowatt hours per square meter per day, as a major untapped resource for this transition. The framework managed by entities like the Rwanda Energy Group is designed to attract necessary capital. Industry analysts suggest that standardizing cost-reflective power purchase agreements will be essential for unlocking the private sector investment needed to bridge the financing gap and achieve full energy sovereignty.