News

ARC Power and Volkswagen Mobility Solutions Rwanda Unveil Rwanda's First Empowerment Hub

Kigali, Rwanda – November 8, 2024 - ARC Power and Volkswagen Mobility Solutions Rwanda (VWMSR) have partnered to launch Rwanda's first Empowerment Hub, a solar-powered platform designed to revolutionise agriculture and energy access. The project is driven by VWMSR on behalf of Volkswagen Group Africa and was initiated by Volkswagen Group Innovation in Germany. The Gen Farm project addresses the potential of renewable energy and a sustainable mechanisation of agriculture, to shape mobility in Africa for generations to come. Advancing Rwanda's Vision 2050 to transform the economy into a high-income nation by 2050.

ARC Power signs ground breaking Strategic Power Partnership in Rwanda

London, UK – June 6, 2023 - ARC Power, a leading British renewable energy developer, is proud to announce the signing of a momentous Strategic Power Partnership with the Government of Rwanda. This historic collaboration marks the first-of-its-kind initiative, where ARC Power will work hand in hand with the government to develop the grid extension and deploy grid-tied solar generation units across Rwanda, with the aim of providing electricity to at least 40,000 households, schools and health centres for the first time and enhancing the country's clean energy mix.

ARC Power Strategic Power Partnership secures funding in Rwanda

ARC Power is proud to announce a significant equity investment of US$10 million from Oikocredit and Triodos Investment Management (Triodos IM), two prominent international impact investors. This strategic funding will enable ARC Power to accelerate its mission of providing grid-connected clean energy access to over 100,000 people across Rwanda, in the first phase, representing more than 30,000 households who will receive access to power for the first time.

ARC Power wins the Energy Globe Award

ARC Power won the Energy Globe Award at a brilliant event in Vienna. ARC Power was selected from more than 3,000 companies, across 180 countries in recognition of its contribution towards sustainable development and innovation in the clean energy sector.

ARC Power wins a Queen’s Award for Enterprise

ARC Power has been honoured with a Queen's Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development.

ARC Power Remote Technology Solutions

Coupling cloud based software like Grid Manager and QField allows our teams to use tablets or laptops to quickly access and manage our infrastructure and customer accounts.

ARC Power in CNN Business

ARC Power in CNN Business this week:

ARC Power has been recently featured on CNN regarding the growing energy mix within Rwanda and the Rwandan Government’s aim of 100% energy access by 2024.

ARC Power Preliminary Surveys in Malawi

ARC Power’s Survey Team has been searching for our first site in Malawi, as we look forward to working with the Malawi Government to bring power to rural communities.

Full Regulatory Approval, ARC Power Rolls out Again

ARC Power recently received tariff approval from Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority, which was the final stage of full regulatory approval and has allowed us to start installing in the next cluster of rural villages in the Gatsibo District, bringing first-time power to more than 5,000 people.

ARC Power International Calls

Zoom and GoogleHangouts has allowed us to carry on providing quality service for our customers regardless of our employees location and the global pandemic. This is crucial for the data team as its primary purpose is to lend its expertise to every team that needs to analyse and understand data.

ARC Power in the FT

ARC Power in the FT this week:

ARC Power has set up 75% of the AC solar mini-grid connections in Rwanda, where their primary focus is, with plans to expand into Malawi and Uganda this year.

“I think there’s an advantage leapfrogging traditional grid infrastructure with distributed power, and that’s what we’re addressing,”
Karl Boyce, CEO

ARC Power Solar Irrigation Research

Farm irrigation in Rwanda is often powered by expensive and dirty diesel water pumps, and this solution leads to a really low water efficiency. ARC Power’s research and design team is working on a solar power alternative.

ARC Power Entrepreneurs Tariff Launch

ARC Power’s new Entrepreneurs Tariff supports our customers to further expand and grow their businesses. Since 2018 we have seen amazing growth in the Murama community and we are excited to see how this new tariff will further grow this community.

Journey through different Districts in Rwanda’s Eastern Province

The ARC Power Survey team has been completing preliminary surveys in several districts in the Eastern Province of Rwanda. These preliminary surveys allow ARC Power to locate future minigrids to expand to and bring the local communities reliable AC off-grid power. Whilst surveying this week, the team have experienced the amazing local communities and the breathtaking Rwandan landscapes of Gatisbo, Kayonza and Nyagatare.

Achieving Energy Access for all in Malawi

The Government of Malawi recognises that in order for the country to experience sustainable economic growth and alleviate poverty, all people of Malawi must have access to sustainable and renewable energy. ARC Power is working with governments to achieve energy access.

The Beauty of Partnerships - ARC Power Empowering Villages

Through key partnerships ARC Power brings empowerment to our communities. We measure our business success through the powering and empowering of communities.

ARC Power Smart Metering and USSD

ARC Power customers are connected via smart meters allowing pre-paid, real time top-ups. Smart meters allow customers to access their meter readings, balance and top up for free anywhere and at any time.

The community at the heart of ARC Power

At ARC Power we know that our customers are at the heart of our business, and we always value the opportunity to engage with them. Supported by the Rwandan Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) a number of our team took the day out of the office to have an in-depth conversation with our future customers in Gatsibo District.

ARC Power in partnership with EEP Africa

ARC Power is working with EEP Africa to provide clean cooking technologies to our off grid solar communities in Rwanda.

Our reliable AC mini-grids are able to provide power to communities not connected to the national grid.

ARC Power to open new Solar Business Parks across Rwanda

Rwanda’s first Solar Business Park- built and entirely powered by ARC Power- has opened its doors to the people of Mahama in the Bugesera District. With several more in the pipeline, the Parks will provide a home for local businesses and aim to further empower the country’s rural communities where commercial activity has hence far been limited due to a lack of electricity.

British startup to open ‘Solar Business Parks’ in Rwanda

Rwanda's Leading English Daily newspaper ‘The New Times’ reports on ARC Power plans to open 45 new Solar Business Parks in the country over the next two years, connecting a total of 250,000 Rwandans. By the end of 2021 alone, ARC is looking to power the creation of more than 100 new local businesses.

Rwanda Embracing Solar Energy – Interview with ARC Power CEO Karl Boyce

ARC Power Founder and CEO Karl Boyce sat down with Eurasia Review to discuss how solar mini-grids have become an important part of the Rwandan energy mix, helping to create jobs and opportunity in remote regions. The interview charts ARC’s recent growth and the impact the company is having on Rwanda, a country that is increasingly adopting solar energy due to its affordability and accessibility.

East Africa’s Electric Motorbikes Are Fuelling a Carbon-Free Future

ARC Power is to pioneer a first pilot of battery swapping units for electric motorbikes in partnership with sister company ARC Ride in Rwanda. ARC Ride’s fleet is leading the fast-paced transition to electric vehicles in East Africa by competing with the region’s petrol-powered motorbike taxis. Utilising ARC Power grids to generate this electricity through solar will help create an end-to-end sustainable transport system.

Nyamata Stars Football Club lift the Airtel Inter-district Cup

Local football team Nyamata Stars FC, proudly supported by ARC Power, have recently been successful in winning the Airtel Inter-district Cup for under-sixteens. The tournament is held on a monthly basis for a range of different age groups, from ages 8-16. Seeing off a variety of opponents from well-established clubs’ academies, winning the cup has been a huge achievement. The boys are thrilled with their success, which is evident from the photo of them standing proudly with their trophy!

A second ARC is delivered to Rwamucumu, Murama in Rwanda

The local community in Rwamucumu, Murama have just taken delivery of the second ARC in Rwanda. This second, larger ARC is 40ft to allow for additional storage space and is the latest development in the ARC Power pilot scheme, funded by the Renewable Energy Performance Platform (REPP) and managed by Camco Clean Energy, to install 8 solar mini-grid systems in Rwanda’s Bugesera District.

ARC Power connect Zam Zam Primary School

In July this year, ARC Power connected Zam Zam Primary School in Kasebigege village, Bugesera District in Rwanda. The newly renovated school now welcomes over 300 local children aged between 3-6 years old.

ARC Power secure REPP funding for roll-out in Rwanda

After months of hard work by the ARC Power team, we are delighted to announce that we have secured funding from the Renewable Energy Performance Platform (REPP). REPP is funded by the UK government and managed by Camco Clean Energy.