Rwanda Launches Prequalification for 200MW Floating Solar PV with 800MWh Battery Storage

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 22, the Energy Development Corporation Limited (EDCL), a subsidiary of the Rwanda Energy Group (REG), issued an invitation for prequalification to select an independent power producer for a 200MW floating solar PV plant and an accompanying 800MWh battery energy storage system at Lake Sake in the Ngoma District of the Eastern Province. Applications are due by November 12, 2026, with a site visit scheduled for October 23.

The project adopts a co-located configuration of floating solar PV and battery energy storage. The PV installation has a capacity of 200MW, installed on the surface of Lake Sake, including modules, floating structures, mooring systems, and related electrical equipment. The energy storage system has a capacity of 800MWh, corresponding to a 4-hour discharge duration at 200MW, covering batteries, power conversion, battery management, and auxiliary safety systems. The project requires the construction of substations and transmission facilities, connecting to the grid via the nearest 220kV transmission line, and the deployment of SCADA and plant control systems to enable monitoring and control interfaces with the grid. The winning bidder will be responsible for the full process of design, supply, installation, testing, commissioning, operation, and maintenance.

The project adopts an independent power producer model, with the winning bidder signing a 25-year power purchase agreement with the Energy Utility Corporation Limited (EUCL), a subsidiary of REG. The construction period is expected to be 18 months. The prequalification sets clear financial and technical thresholds for applicants: at least 10 years of experience in the design, construction, and management of renewable energy power plants, with relevant track record in the development of large-scale solar PV and battery energy storage projects; an average annual turnover of no less than USD 300 million over the three years from 2023 to 2025; and proof of direct access to at least USD 60 million in liquid funds or credit facilities, with a current ratio greater than 1. Applicants may submit independently or participate in the form of a joint venture or consortium, with each application involving no more than two entities.

The project is incorporated into Rwanda's National Strategy for Transformation (NST2, 2024–2029) and the Vision 2050 framework. Rwanda's current installed capacity is approximately 467.14MW, with plans to increase it to 1,066MW by 2034. Solar energy currently accounts for approximately 4.2% of the national generation mix, with about 12.08MW of grid-connected capacity. Based on the 200MW PV and the existing 12.08MW of grid-connected solar capacity, the project scale is approximately 16.6 times the existing grid-connected solar capacity.