In Rwanda, electricity consumption remains quite modest, standing at 77 kWh per person in 2023. This figure is significantly lower than the global average of 3,781 kWh per person, suggesting considerable room for growth in energy access and development within the country. Among Rwanda's electricity generation, the clean energy segment stands out, contributing over half of the total with 43 kWh per person, while the remainder comes from other sources, likely including fossil fuels. The comparatively low levels of electricity generation can have several implications for the socio-economic landscape, affecting everything from industrial development to daily life conveniences and contributing to energy poverty. Insufficient electricity can hamper educational opportunities, limit healthcare services, and constrain economic growth, making the case for urgent expansion.
Is Electricity Growing in Rwanda?
Recent data indicates that Rwanda's electricity consumption has not grown since its 2022 peak of 78 kWh per person, and it now sits at 77 kWh per person. Disappointingly, this negligible change signifies stagnation in energy accessibility, which could hinder efforts in socio-economic advancement and improvement of living standards. Even more concerning is the slight dip in low-carbon electricity, which stood at 43 kWh per person in 2023 compared to the 44 kWh per person recorded in 2021. As low-carbon sources are essential for clean, sustainable energy development, this small decline in clean energy usage further complicates Rwanda's path toward energy reliability and sustainability.
Suggestions
To boost low-carbon electricity generation, Rwanda can look to successful models seen in regions like India and Brazil. India has significantly increased its solar energy generation to 134 TWh, showcasing the potential for harnessing abundant sunlight as a resource. Similarly, Brazil has invested in wind power, generating 108 TWh from this clean source. Rwanda can harness its geographic location and sunlight availability to emphasize solar energy expansion while exploring wind energy possibilities. Furthermore, Rwanda should consider developing nuclear energy, taking cues from countries like France and states like Illinois in the United States, where robust nuclear infrastructure allows them to produce substantial low-carbon electricity reliably. Integrating nuclear alongside solar could accelerate Rwanda toward achieving energy security and environmental sustainability.
History
Rwanda's history with low-carbon electricity spans decades with a focus on hydroelectric power. Over many years, from the mid-1990s, hydroelectric generation largely remained stable with minor fluctuations. After minor setbacks in 1996 and 1999, hydroelectric power saw gradual increases in 2014, 2015, 2019, and 2020. Still, the growth was modest, mainly characterized by periods of stagnation from 2003 to 2021, underscoring an urgent need for diversification and expansion. While hydro provided a critical foundation, Rwanda must expand beyond hydropower to meet future demand with clean, sustainable solutions such as solar and nuclear to secure a more resilient low-carbon electricity pipeline.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.