Rural Area Electrification and Access to Clean Energy Current Situation and Challenges in Rwanda

The lack of electricity in the community has tremendously reduced the commercial impact of remote areas in some developing countries, in which Rwanda is included. In some areas of the country, where some farm products are usually processed using locally invented machines, which reduces the quality and quantity of production and hence increasing health risks. Recent economic studies indicate that hybrid power systems such as renewables-based mini-grids could help Africa build a climate-resilient, low-carbon economy in a post-pandemic world, aligning economic recovery with sustainable development and climate goals. This paper investigates the current electrification rate and the factors that could slow down the electricity access speed and proposes some techniques to tackle these challenges. This work found that the electrification in remote areas is slowed down by the far and displaced households where connecting them through nation grid is very costly and difficult. In addition, as in rural areas people are not able to purchase their own energy sources. To mitigate this challenge, the paper proposes the installed of a solar PV mobile mini-grid that can supply a group of houses which will help them in accessing to the affordable end clean energy. The min grid will be able to change how processing machines are used eventually. The solution is also expected to help in supporting universal electrification with clean technologies to encourage growth and protect the environment.