Congo grid-connected solar panel factory

Is off-grid solar power a 'cornerstone of Africa's Energy Future?

About 565 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa lack electricity — representing about 85% of the global population without power. This makes off-grid solar power a “cornerstone of Africa’s energy future,” especially in rural areas, said Stephen Kansuk, the United Nations Development Programme’s regional technical advisor for Africa.

Where is Nuru solar based?

Nuru deployed Congo’s first solar-based mini-grid in 2017 and has a 1.3MW solar hybrid site in Goma, the largest off-grid mini-grid in sub-Saharan Africa. Another solar hybrid site in Beni and two in the oriental province (Tadu & Faradje). Nuru was first established under the name Kivu Green Energy in August 2015.

Why did Nuru keep a solar farm in Goma?

Katembo Waziwazi, a Nuru technician, walks through a solar farm in Goma, Congo, Goma May 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa) Nuru’s electricity kept flowing while power in other areas went down, a fact Shaw believes testifies to its importance to residents, who he said guarded the solar farm’s gates to ensure nobody looted or destroyed the panels.

Will PROPARCO invest in a mini-grid project in eastern DRC?

Building on these initial successes, the company has developed a pipeline of mini-grid projects in Eastern DRC. Proparco plans to co-invest with IFC in this opportunity, and has jointly led the ESG and Governance action plans, bringing much-needed risk capital to the round to fully finance the series B projects.