In an effort to address the chronic energy supply shortage in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Atlanta-based Renewvia Energy Corp. has announced a massive $750 million expansion plan. Focusing on the construction and management of solar-powered mini-grids, this project has designated Ethiopia, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as the primary destinations for its next phase.
This move comes at a critical time for the continent; despite various international efforts, nearly 600 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa still lack access to basic electricity, accounting for 80% of the global population without power. Renewvia’s new strategy aims to fill this gap by deploying approximately 2.1 million new electricity connections across the target countries.
Rather than waiting for centralized power distributions like national grids—which require immense capital and many years to develop—mini-grids offer a fast, alternative solution. These systems, powered by solar energy and battery storage, have the capacity to make rural villages, health facilities, and small businesses self-sufficient. Trey Jarrard, CEO of Renewvia Solar Africa, stated: “Our expansion into Ethiopia, Rwanda, and the Congo is a strategic response to the growing energy deficit. Our goal is to utilize long-term, low-interest loans to ensure electricity tariffs remain affordable.”
Renewvia’s selection of Ethiopia, Rwanda, and the DRC is intentional. Although these nations possess high hydroelectric potential, the high cost of infrastructure has prevented national grids from reaching rural areas. In Ethiopia, with a population of over 120 million, off-grid alternatives are vital for its efforts to become a regional manufacturing hub. In the DRC, the company has identified Baraka—a city of 270,000 people on the shores of Lake Tanganyika—for a major electricity project. Meanwhile, Rwanda’s green economy policies have created a favorable environment for renewable energy providers.
A key component of this expansion involves focusing on areas in need of humanitarian aid. The company is seeking an additional $45 million in funding to quintuple electricity access in Kenya’s Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps. If successful, this will benefit 550,000 people who currently rely on expensive diesel and kerosene. This private sector involvement aligns with the World Bank and African Development Bank’s “Mission 300” initiative, which aims to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. The success of Renewvia’s $750 million plan is expected to inspire other international investors to increase capital flow into African renewable energy.
