This will only take a second!
President of Burundi Évariste Ndayishimiye officially inaugurated a solar power plant near the country''s capital on Tuesday together with the CEO of the renewable energy company Gigawatt Global. The solar field, which is in Mubuga in the central Gitega province, has provided more than 10% of Burundi''s electricity since becoming operational two years ago.
At the inauguration, President Ndayishimiye and Gigawatt Global CEO Yosef Abramowitz discussed plans to increase the solar field''s generating capacity, hoping to double the amount of energy it produces.
The solar field was constructed between January 2020 and October 2021 by Gigawatt Global''s local subsidiary Gigawatt Global Burundi SA. The multinational effort was Burundi''s first substantial energy generation project in over three decades, and the 7.5-megawatt solar field is the country''s first utility-scale solar power station.
We wanted to show the world that clean energy is not just for rich countries, but it can be for all people, and it can bring social and economic development
Abramowitz told The Media Line that the project''s success proves that solar energy is a viable solution for developing countries. "We wanted to show the world that clean energy is not just for rich countries, but it can be for all people, and it can bring social and economic development," he said.
Abramowitz grew up between Israel and America. After moving to Kibbutz Ketura in southern Israel in 2006, he co-founded the Arava Power Company, one of Israel''s first solar energy companies.
People from all over the world, especially Africa, reached out to Abramowitz after he founded the company, asking him how to bring solar power to their countries. "So, we started Gigawatt Global to take our know-how and technology and bring it to sub-Saharan Africa," Abramowitz said.
After succeeding in Rwanda, the leaders of Gigawatt Global decided to bring solar energy to Burundi, which, according to the Human Development Index, is one of the least-developed countries on the planet.
"Everyone said: that''s going to be impossible, you cannot do it in Burundi, there are so many different reasons," Abramowitz said.
The project has succeeded financially as well. According to Abramowitz, the cost of constructing the field was $15 million. "And I''m pleased to say that the government is meeting its financial obligations, which is why we''re going to invest more and expand the solar field," he said.
Abramowitz said that Gigawatt Global allows investors to do good and make financial gains. "They just have to be a bit more patient" than they would if they were investing in a company without a social conscience, he said.
He also noted that the solar field project created 350 jobs during the construction phase and several dozen jobs maintaining the field.
In addition to its project in Burundi, Gigawatt Global is developing solar fields in 10 other developing countries.
"We are calling on the Jeff Bezos Earth Fund, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and others to join forces with Gigawatt Global so that we can be a platform to empower people in the least developed countries in Africa," he said.
President Ndayishimiye of Burundi visited Gigawatt Global''s solar power plant in Mubuga, Burundi, near the capital Gitega, the nation''s first utility-scale solar field.
The high-profile celebratory event was attended in-person and remotely by dozens of foreign diplomats including the ambassadors of the United States, Holland and others, as well as representatives of the project partners and local dignitaries. During the visit, President Ndayishimiye and Gigawatt Global CEO Yosef Abramowitz announced their intention to double the generating capacity near the currently operating plant.
President Ndayishimiye said at the ceremony "We celebrate economic and climate progress in Burundi, which is open to direct foreign investment to catalyze economic growth for our people. We invite the international community to follow the lead of our partners at Gigawatt Global, Inspired Evolution, REPP and DFC and develop projects, especially in the agricultural sector. We have excellent soil for tea and coffee and an industrious population. And thanks to this solar field, and my agreement to double the size of it, we have increased energy security that can reliably run agro-businesses."
Built through a multinational effort, the pioneering 7.5 MW solar PV plant near the village of Mubuga has been in operation since May 2021 and now provides over 10% of Burundi''s electricity, supplying clean power to tens of thousands of homes and businesses.
The plant supports international efforts to increase renewables and climate finance, especially for the world''s most vulnerable communities.
A small business and community center powered by solar energy providing access to productive use of electricity locally, is also moving forward. This ''Energy Hub'', for which land and funding are being secured, will promote community development through women''s empowerment and youth and employment programs, along with various educational components developed in conjunction with local and international NGOs.
The six-year process of developing and building Burundi''s first solar plant was led by Gigawatt Global, an award-winning green energy developer and independent power producer for Africa. Financing for the construction of the project was provided via a consortium including pan-African private equity investor Inspired Evolution via its Evolution II Fund, the UK government-funded Renewable Energy Performance Platform (REPP – managed by Camco), and Gigawatt Global. Political risk insurance and refinancing of construction debt is being led by the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC).
UK Ambassador to Burundi, Omar Daair, said "Celebration of Burundi''s first grid-connected solar farm follows an extraordinary international effort to increase renewables and climate finance in one of the world''s most vulnerable countries. This pioneering solar project, proudly supported through UK international climate finance, has increased Burundi''s generation capacity by over 10% and is helping propel the country towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy future."
Additional support for the project was provided directly and indirectly from the Energy and Environment Partnership (EEP – a fund set up by Finland, the UK and Austria) and the Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries (BIO). Trinity International has advised the Gigawatt Global and Inspired Evolution equity teams since 2017. Engineering, procurement and construction services were provided by French firm Voltalia.
Gigawatt Global Burundi SA Managing Director Michael Fichtenberg said "This project demonstrates how the world community can realize shared development goals by utilizing international financing facilities best suited for frontier and emerging markets."
Gigawatt Global CEO Yosef Abramowitz said "We thank our impact investors and strategic partners, as well as the Burundi government, for joining forces to accomplish this historic milestone fulfilling many of the UN''s Sustainable Development Goals in Burundi. President Ndayishimiye is demonstrating the sort of leadership which will encourage additional foreign direct investment from us and our investment and development finance partners. Burundi''s business climate is continuing to improve and we are confident that we can continue to power their growth."
Abramowitz, who was nominated by 12 African countries for the Nobel Peace Prize for his pioneering commitment to green energy access, continued "Green energy projects that serve the most vulnerable communities should be prioritized by the international community, and we hope many of the new international financing consortiums will partner with us to scale these impactful projects in the Least Development Countries."
President Ndashimiye of Burundi attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Gigawatt Global’s solar power plant in Mubuga, Burundi, the nation’s first utility-scale solar field.
About First solar burundi
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to evolve, advancements in First solar burundi have become critical to optimizing the utilization of renewable energy sources. From innovative battery technologies to intelligent energy management systems, these solutions are transforming the way we store and distribute solar-generated electricity.
When you're looking for the latest and most efficient First solar burundi for your PV project, our website offers a comprehensive selection of cutting-edge products designed to meet your specific requirements. Whether you're a renewable energy developer, utility company, or commercial enterprise looking to reduce your carbon footprint, we have the solutions to help you harness the full potential of solar energy.
By interacting with our online customer service, you'll gain a deep understanding of the various First solar burundi featured in our extensive catalog, such as high-efficiency storage batteries and intelligent energy management systems, and how they work together to provide a stable and reliable power supply for your PV projects.
Related Contents
