BYD, Scatec Solar to build 8.6-MW solar plant in Rwanda

Apr 3, 2014 - Chinese battery and solar panel maker BYD Co Ltd (HKG:1211) said yesterday it will deliver equipment for a 8.58-MW solar power plant to be installed in Rwanda by Norwegian photovoltaic (PV) solutions provider Scatec Solar.

The solar park will be located around 60 km (37 miles) from the capital Kigale and will have an annual output of 16 million kWh. Completion is scheduled for mid-summer. The Rwanda Energy, Water and Sanitation Authority (EWSA) has signed a 25-year power purchase agreement for the plant.

The facility will be Rwanda's first solar power system and is part of the country's plans to boost its renewable energy capacity by 500%. The large-scale solar park will raise the country's total electricity generation by 8%, BYD said.

Rwanda aims to secure the electricity provision to more than 50% of its population by 2017 through increasing its total power generation capacity to 560 MW from the current 110 MW.

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