Stadtwerke Mainz AG Activities in the partner country Rwanda

1. Stadtwerke Mainz AGActivities in the partner country Rwanda Ernest NKUSI (M.Sc)E-mail: ernest.nkusi@uewg.de

2. Background Information on the “ Sustainable Energy “Concept implemented in Rwanda Stadtwerke Mainz AG is engaged in Rwanda, as part of their concept „Sustainable energy“, through: • The construction and financing of over 20 photovoltaic installations, the largest of them being installed at Mount Jali (approx. 2000 m above sea level) near the capital Kigali. • Balancing the high investment cost of renewable energies with the help of public funding and, carrying out the training of local staffs at the same time. Methodologies set in motion includes: • The construction and operation cost in form of maintenance work will be directly converted in an increased local revenue and employment. Investment in renewable energies for developing countries is also investing in the economic future

3. Photovoltaic Power PlantKigali Solaire • Inauguration of the first phase of construction of the solar system "Kigali Solaire on 7 June 2007 on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the partnership of Rhineland-Palatinate with Rwanda by the Prime Minister Kurt Beck, the Rwandan President Paul Kagame and the vice chairman of the Stadtwerke Mainz AG Hanns-Detlev Höhne. • Stadtwerke Mainz AG operates the Photovoltaic power plant as an Independent Power Producer (IPP) and, the produced electricity is fed to national power grid owned by Electrogaz (the state utility). • The revenue is used for upkeep and maintenance; surpluses will be integrated into new projects in Rwanda.

4. Photovoltaic Power PlantKigali Solaire • The first phase of construction of Kigali Solaire has an installed power peak of 250 kilowatts (kW peak) and is expected to be approximately 325,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) annually over a period of more than 20 years, with CO2-free emission. • The Photovoltaic plant was built by Juwi Solar GmbH, a subsidiary of Juwi GmbH in Mainz. • Stadtwerke Mainz AG has given the authority to run the plant to the local employees i.e. operation and maintenance.

5. Photovoltaic Power PlantKigali Solaire – Implementation stage. A co-operation between:-Ministry of Infrastructure-RWANDA-Stadtwerke Mainz AG, GERMANY-Kigali City Council (KCC), RWANDA-Electrogaz, RWANDA-Jumélage RhénaniePalatinat/RWANDA • The idea born in 2004 when a German-Rwandan delegation visited Mont Jali.July 2006: signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the MININFRA, Stadtwerke Mainz AG, the City of Kigali and Electrogaz.The kick-off was September 2006

6. Photovoltaic Power PlantKigali Solaire – Implementation stage • The site preparation was completed in February 2007 .A team of assemblers and an Engineer from Germany started by setting the posts that carry tables and modules.400 posts, L= 2.5 m, depth= 1.3 m • 100 tables, with 40 panels of 0.64 KWp each, were mounted.By mid April the montage of the tables was completed

7. Photovoltaic Power PlantKigali Solaire – Implementation stage • Every 3 tables were connected to a converter to switch the incoming direct current into alternative current of 230V. • MININFRA has built a fence around the construction site for protection of the installation. • 34 Converters are connected to 2 distribution stations by underground cables.

8. Photovoltaic Power PlantKigali Solaire – Implementation stage • These 250 kW shall be the first phase of solar power production. It is planned to extend the plant to 1 MW. • The onsite substation comprises a 400 KW transformer (15kV/33 kV) that is used to step-up the incoming voltage to the middle voltage level • End of May 2007 the installation was connected to the Electrogaz grid.Stadtwerke Mainz as IPP receives remuneration from Electrogaz to cover the running cost. • Kigali Solaire will set a Milestone in solar power production as up to this point there is no other installation of comparable size known in Africa!

9. Public Private Partnership ProjectsStadtwerke Mainz AG / Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) • To create the conditions for sustainable development of photovoltaic in Rwanda, Stadtwerke Mainz AG along with GTZ has conducted a training of 23 native solar electricians under a Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) . • To achieve sustainable development at the district level, each trained technician was assigned to a district and, the district was also entitled to 1 KW power facility to be installed at social institutions . • The solar technicians can through the maintenance and upkeep create an extra income. • The contribution of the Chamber of Trade experts from the Rhineland-Palatinate on ground was of great importance. • The development and implementation of the training approach was made by the help of the technical cooperation with the Rwandan Office of the Chamber of Trade Rhineland-Palatinate. • Project duration: November 2006 - November 2008

10. Foundation „Energie für Afrika“ • Stadtwerke Mainz AG has launched the Foundation „Energie für Afrika“ in 2007. • The greatest effort to reach autonomous economic development fails through the lack of energy. Access to energy is one of the most important prerequisites for economic development. • Economic growth in Africa requires obviously higher energy sources. When using fossil fuels, it would result in a drastic increase in CO2 emissions. • The global challenge of climate problems can not be held at the expense of the economic development of poor countries only. It is therefore necessary to develop and implement concepts in Africa with the aim of achieving a steady growth in green house gas emissions. • Therefore, the Foundation promotes, specifically, renewable energies projects for Africa.

11. “50 Roof Program” for Rwanda • Stadtwerke Mainz AG has launched a "50 roof program" for Rwanda . • In addition to the large facility in Kigali, there will be another 50 Solar power plants with a capacity of 1 kilowatt installed in villages as decentralized power plant units. They will be used ,for instance, to cool drugs in health centers. • A total of 23 of these plants are already planned and financed. The financing of the other facilities will consist of further donations made to the Foundation "Energy für Afrika". • Again, the company relies on sustainability not only through the use of renewable energies, but also by the fact that this solar systems are distributed, installed and maintained exclusively by local professionals.

12. Gas-fired Power Plant Project Gas Spurt (Auto-siphon) • Rwanda shares, with the Democratic Republic of Congo, a unique energy resource in the form of methane gas dissolved in the deep waters of Lake Kivu. • The feasibility of large-scale methane exploitation from Lake Kivu is well established. • The technology used to extract gas, are far less complex than the technology used by the oil and natural gas industry. This is because the gas produced from the waters of Lake Kivu is a low pressure and temperature gas.

13. Gas-fired Power Plant Project Cape Rubona pilot plant • The Cap Rubona pilot plant is going to be given in concession by the Rwandan Government. • It’s a contribution in finding a solution to the Rwanda’s energy problem. • It will improve the economic and social situation by supplying clean, reliable and affordable electricity. • This project complies with CDM as to reduce the green house gas emissions. • The produced electrical power will be fed to the national grid. The gas-fired power plant is planned to have an installed capacity of 10 MW produced with the help of CHP units.

14. Projects in planning Fair for renewable energies • Important for the progress in the field of renewable energies are primarily relations between local companies, manufacturers and suppliers of technology. • In this context Prime Minister Kurt Beck has suggested to organize a trade fair for renewable energies in Kigali. • The aim is the exchange of experiences in the East African region and at the same time building of relationships between the actors. • For companies from Rhineland-Palatinate, this is also a platform created for accessing to the East African market with their products and services. • On the issue of funding, there were already discussions with GTZ, which has also signaled its financial involvement in this project. • The Foundation "Energy for Africa„ is in charge of the organization and implementation of the event.

15. what plans Rwanda? Energy projects in the phases of research and planning • Currently, the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) investigates the geothermal potential throughout Rwanda. • Chevron in 2006 had completed a study and recommended that the locations of Gisenyi in the north of Lake Kivu and Mashyuza in the south of Lake Kivu further, should be their choices for detailed exploration . • The methane gas at the bottom of the Kivu lake represents a threat of an explosion if not exploited. Therefore, the installation of gas extraction facilities and gas-fired power plants are highly promoted by the GoR.

16. Stadtwerke Mainz AGActivities in the partner country Rwanda Thank you for your attention