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Rwanda Launches Tender for Large-Scale Floating Solar and Battery Storage Project
Rwanda's Energy Development Corporation Limited (EDCL) has initiated a tender for a significant energy project. This includes a 200 MW floating solar power plant and an 800 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS). The project is planned for Lake Sake and seeks developers with at least ten years of experience.
Rwanda’s Energy Development Corporation Limited (EDCL) has launched a tender for an ambitious energy project. This initiative involves the development of a 200 MW floating solar power plant, coupled with an 800 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS). The proposed location for this large-scale installation is Lake Sake, situated within the Ngoma district of Rwanda’s Eastern province.
The project is structured as an independent power producer (IPP) scheme. The selected developer will enter into a long-term power purchase agreement with the state-owned Rwanda Energy Group (REG), through its subsidiary Energy Utility Corporation Limited (EUCL). The responsibilities of the chosen bidder include the design, supply, installation, testing, commissioning, operation, and maintenance of both the floating PV system and the BESS. Prospective bidders are required to possess at least ten years of experience in designing, constructing, and managing renewable energy power plants.
The tender process commences with a pre-qualification round. Interested independent power producers must meet administrative, technical, and financial requirements, as detailed in the pre-qualification documents available on REG’s website. A site visit for potential applicants is scheduled for October 23. The deadline for electronically submitting initial bids is November 12.
Rwanda’s solar energy market is still in its early stages. According to the Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA), 47.5 MW of operational solar capacity has been established in the country to date. Floating PV installations are relatively uncommon across Africa, despite research highlighting significant potential for deploying solar on the continent’s inland water bodies. A 2023 study suggests that Africa could generate 100 GW of solar power by utilizing just 1% of its 100,000 square kilometers of reservoirs. The largest floating solar project currently under development in Africa is a 600 MW installation on Lake Kariba, bordering Zimbabwe and Zambia. The largest operational floating PV project in Africa to date is a 13 MW array in Morocco, which became active in July.
Source: pv magazine
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