Off-grid renewable energy systems, primarily powered by solar technology, serve 25.3% of Rwandan households, according to the Ministry of Infrastructure, as Kigali prepares to host a global forum bringing together investors and energy leaders to discuss expanding electricity access.
Rwanda’s overall electricity access rate stands at 85.4%, with 60.1% of households connected to the national grid. The remaining 14.6% still lack access as the country works towards achieving universal electricity coverage by 2029.
The figures represent considerable progress from the 64.5% electricity access rate recorded in the 2020/21 fiscal year.
However, Rwanda has yet to achieve its earlier ambition of universal access by 2024, leaving the country with a revised deadline to reach households still without power.
Solar energy has become particularly important in rural communities, where extending electricity lines to scattered households can be expensive.
Standalone solar home systems and mini-grids offer alternatives for families living beyond the reach of the national electricity network.
The importance of solar power in these areas is reflected in the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda’s 2023/24 household survey, which found that 29.1% of rural households used solar energy as their main source of lighting, compared with 5.2% in urban areas.
During the same survey period, electricity supplied by distributors was the main lighting source for 36.3% of rural households, against 83% of urban households.
Although the survey measures households’ primary lighting sources rather than overall electricity access, the findings illustrate the greater dependence on solar technology in rural communities.
Affordability remains a challenge, particularly for low-income households that struggle to meet the initial costs of acquiring solar systems.
A World Bank report published on October 22 highlighted how Rwanda’s Renewable Energy Fund introduced targeted subsidies in 2020 to make off-grid solar systems more affordable. By the programme’s closure in December 2024, it had reached more than two million beneficiaries, 52% of whom were women.
Despite these gains, access to solar electricity does not necessarily mean households and businesses have sufficient power to meet all their needs.
The World Bank cited the experience of a hairdresser whose solar system allows her to work after dark and charge her phone but cannot power equipment such as electric clippers and hair dryers.
Such limitations highlight the need for higher-capacity solar systems that can support income-generating activities rather than providing electricity mainly for lighting and phone charging.
Investment is already being directed towards expanding electricity access and improving energy infrastructure.
In May 2026, the Government of Rwanda, the African Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank launched a $300 million energy financing programme aimed at accelerating electrification and strengthening electricity distribution.
The programme is expected to provide 50,000 additional off-grid electricity connections and connect another 200,000 households to the national grid. It also includes improvements to electricity infrastructure intended to strengthen reliability and support economic activities.
Rwanda’s electricity expansion plans combine national grid connections with off-grid technologies, recognising that extending conventional power infrastructure to every household may not be the most practical solution.
According to Rwanda Energy Group’s 2024-2034 strategic plan, the country’s electrification strategy envisages 75% of households being served through the national grid and 25% through off-grid systems as it works towards universal access.
These developments come ahead of the Global Off-Grid Solar Forum and Expo, scheduled for October 27-29 at the Kigali Convention Centre.
The gathering, jointly organised by the global off-grid solar association GOGLA and the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program, with Rwanda’s Ministry of Infrastructure as co-host, will bring together investors, policymakers, energy companies and development partners.
Discussions will focus on mobilising investment, expanding access to affordable solar technologies and encouraging the use of electricity in businesses and other productive activities.
With off-grid solutions already serving approximately one in four Rwandan households, meeting the 2029 target will depend on extending electricity access to the remaining communities while ensuring that existing solar systems can meet growing household and business needs.
Elie GATETE
RADIOTV10