Renewables
Rwanda opens tender for large floating solar and storage project
Rwanda has launched a procurement process for a 200 MW floating solar facility paired with a substantial battery storage system.
Key points
- The project at Lake Sake includes a 200 MW floating PV plant and 800 MWh BESS.
- The procurement follows an independent power producer model with a long-term power purchase agreement.
- Initial electronic bids must be submitted by November 12 following a pre-qualification round.
What happened
According to pv magazine reporting, Rwanda's Energy Development Corporation Limited has initiated a tender process for a combined 200 MW floating solar power installation and an 800 MWh battery energy storage system. Situated at Lake Sake in the Ngoma district of the Eastern province, the installation will be delivered through an independent power producer framework.
The state-owned Rwanda Energy Group, via its subsidiary the Energy Utility Corporation Limited, will serve as the off-taker under a long-term power purchase agreement. The chosen developer will handle complete project delivery, ranging from design and supply to operation and maintenance. Applicants must demonstrate a minimum of ten years of experience in managing renewable energy generation assets.
The procurement schedule begins with an administrative, technical and financial pre-qualification round. A site visit for prospective participants was arranged for October 23, with the deadline for initial electronic bid submissions set for November 12.
Regional context
Solar energy generation remains at an early stage in Rwanda, where the Africa Solar Industry Association has recorded 47.5 MW of operational capacity. Across the wider African continent, floating photovoltaic installations are still limited despite research indicating substantial potential across inland water bodies. A 2003 study referenced by pv magazine suggested that utilizing just one percent of Africa's reservoirs could unlock 100 GW of solar capacity.
Other notable developments across the continent include a 600 MW initiative planned on Lake Kariba between Zimbabwe and Zambia, and a recently completed 13 MW array in Morocco that began commercial operations in July.
Why it matters
For energy investors and policy makers across Sub-Saharan Africa, the Rwandan tender highlights a growing strategic focus on combining variable renewable generation with utility-scale storage. World Bank figures for 2024 indicate that Rwanda's electricity use per person stands at 79.3 kWh, significantly below the global average of 3,708.5 kWh, while electricity access reached 72 percent of the population. Integrating large-scale battery storage alongside floating solar arrays offers land-constrained nations a viable pathway to expand generation capacity without competing with agricultural or urban land use. As African power markets mature, structured independent power producer frameworks backed by state off-takers will remain critical for attracting private capital into complex hybrid renewable infrastructure.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Renewables are the fastest-growing part of the world’s energy system. The COP28 goal is to triple capacity by 2030, and solar mini-grids are the fastest route to power for millions of people without electricity.
59.9% of electricity in Rwanda was renewable in 2021Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
