What solar projects are being built in the DRC?

The main existing solar project in the DRC is a 1MW solar mini-grid with 3MWh of battery storage capacity built by Enerdeal and Congo Energy in the city of Manono, to supply the local population and SMEs. Enerkac has also developed a 1MW hybrid plant powering SNEL’s Kananga mini-grid in Kasaï Central (non operational in 2019).

How much would it cost to get grid electricity in DRC?

Providing all households of the 26 provincial capitals of DRC access to grid electricity through a mix of mid-sized hydro and solar power plants would cost approximately USD 10.5 billion in CAPEX. This would raise the access rate to about a third of the population, at a cost equivalent to 30% of GDP.

How much does solar energy cost in DRC?

Equipping the remaining two third of the population with Tier 2 access to electricity through solar home systems comes with a much lower price tag, estimated at about USD 3.3 billion. Only a few private operators both local and international - have started to get into the DRC market.

How difficult is it to develop a bankable energy project in DRC?

All these circumstances combined, it is extremely challenging to develop a bankable energy project in the DRC market. Green mini-grid led by private sector is a solution with high potential but the concept and business model needs to be tested to give comforts to most of the investors including debt financiers.

How much electricity does the DRC have?

The DRC has one of the lowest rates of electrification in the world. Only approximately 10% of the population has access to electricity, 35% in urban areas (44% in Kinshasa) and less than 1% in rural areas12. Number of people without access to electricity is 68 million in 2016, while the DRC targets universal access by 2050.

Why does DRC have a high electricity demand?

All segments of electricity demand are severely constrained by supply. Most demand in the residential sector is unmet, partly because DRC has one of the largest deficits in electricity access in the world and high geographical disparities (see chapter 2 for information about access). So is industrial demand.