Ignite power marks a new record for Rwanda’s solar energy sector, reaching a deployment speed of 1,500 solar home systems a day, which means providing electricity to an additional 6,000 people each and every day.
In the ten days since winning a competitive tender issued by Rwanda’s Energy Development Corporation Ltd (EDCL), Ignite has successfully installed over 14,970 units.
Ignite was chosen as EDCL’s preferred supplier and distributor of high quality solar home systems for this tender.
The tender was part of the Government’s national initiative to expand the use of solar home systems in rural areas.
In the first quarter of 2017 alone, Ignite grew its customer base by over 100% and has become the fastest growing solar company on the continent and the largest rural utility in Rwanda in less than a year of operations.
Ignite is now the leading company in the fulfillment of Rwanda’s target to connect 20% of its population to off-grid energy sources by 2018. In reaching a rate of 1,500 systems daily, Ignite has made this goal a reality.
The solar home systems supplied by Ignite are the latest technology equipped with a 10-15 watts solar panel; three to four lights; a Lithium long life battery, and a USB cable multiple-points charger.
The 3-4 lights unit comes with a 24 months warranty and has a micro lending facility attached that allows clients to pay as little as Rwf5000, about $6 per month in US dollars, for two years, after which the client owns the system.
Based on information from the survey done by Sun-Connect, Ignite’s systems are the most affordable in East Africa, with a per lumen cost of $0.03, which is about half of any offering available in the region.
The connected homes are part of the largest solar energy project in Africa. Ignite has been contracted to connect 250,000 homes over the next 2 years. This project has a value of $38m USD.
Yariv Cohen, CEO of Ignite Power “We are excited to provide electricity to hundreds of thousands of households across the continent, reaching the last mile with over 1400 highly motivated field technicians and installers that have been specially trained by Ignite.”
About Ignite Power
Ignite Power is the fastest growing rural utility in Africa with over 1,200 partners and installers regionally.
The Company distributes and finances solar home systems to clients across the continent, connecting hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries to safe, affordable, renewable power.
