Electricity access roll-out strategies and efforts to mobilize the green economy development in Rwanda- A retrospective survey

Abstract

Energy, environment, and sustainable economic growth of a nation are inseparably intertwined. A comprehensive well-planned exploitation of renewable energy resources at hand and, efficient use of fossil fuels are climacteric ingredients. Nowadays, the socio-economic development does not suffice itself without considering unfriendly concomitant impacts on the hosting biosphere. In line with most recent global targets to smooth out the environmental deterioration while contributing an improved life style of planet earth inhabitants, Rwanda has not been left behind. Thanks to efficient strategies set to rekindle the energy structure, Rwanda has simultaneously registered a commendable pace towards a middle-income economy and low-carbon emitter despite its tragic rough patch of Genocide against Tutsis, which makes Rwanda a proper case-based study in developing countries (DCs). This dissertation takes a glance into typical efforts to mobilize the green economic development, which may serve as a model in Sub-Sahara and other DCs. A retrospective assessment has been conducted on efforts to harness locally available clean resources and on inconclusive feasibility studies carried out on potential untapped renewables. The use of hydrocarbon fuels and adopted limitation approaches have been reviewed. Present energy coverage in terms of household, public and industrial provisions; together with the future transformational pathways have been briefly perused. To clown it all, a survey to assess a continuous roll-out of negotiated strategies is herein reported. Binding recommendations to DCs suggest a scrupulous strategic implementation of off-grid small-scale power systems, promotion of hybrid micro-grid, E-mobility traffic integration while strictly considering the inclusion of solar energy that fathers all renewables and investment payoff hindrances.