As part of phasing out the use of fossil fuels [non-renewable energy with carbon emissions] in the agriculture sector and coping with drought, more 1,050 hectares will be added to the small-scale irrigation scheme using solar power next year, Jerome Hitayezu, Head of the Irrigation Programme at Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), told The New Times.

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Solar-powered irrigation reduces greenhouse gas emissions and helps agriculture adapt to drought effects. Energy transition is a key topic being negotiated at the current 28th UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai, which commenced on November 30 and is scheduled to conclude on December 12.

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Hitayezu said currently, the government has subsidised solar-powered irrigation interventions on 646 hectares, in addition to solar-powered irrigation projects funded by partners and the private sector. He also mentioned plans to "promote solar-powered irrigation on 1,050 hectares next year.”

Currently, 120 hectares in Rwamagana, 10 hectares in Ruhango, 96 hectares in Nyagatare, 40 hectares in Ngoma, 144 hectares in Kayonza, and 236 hectares in Bugesera are being irrigated using solar power thanks to government interventions.

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However, he said: "Many farmers using small-scale irrigation rely on pumps using diesel fuel.”

Approx. $280m needed for solar irrigation to cut 10% of emissions

The country has estimated that solar-powered irrigation could reduce 10 per cent of emissions by 2030. According to Rwanda’s 10-year climate plan known as "NDCs” from 2021 to 2030, the use of solar water pumping systems for irrigation within agricultural production to replace diesel pumps, displacing fossil fuel needs $285 million (Rwf356 billion) finance up to 2030, while $24 million will also be spent on developing climate resilient crops, while $109.6 million could be spent on expanding crop and livestock insurance.

The investment to come from government, private sector, and external sources of funding is expected to reduce dependency on imported fossil fuels and increase food security.

The move will also increase the surface under irrigation.

At least 500,000 hectares in Rwanda are irrigable which is equivalent to 40 per cent of Rwandan arable areas. However, 10 per cent is irrigated for now.

Rwanda targets to irrigate 102,284 hectares by 2024. According to RAB, the percentage of solar-powered irrigation is small compared to the total irrigated area given that since 2015 the demand increased and by 2021, at least 1,200 hectares had been irrigated by solar power. The solar-powered irrigation was increased by a 75 per cent subsidy at this time.

Rwanda joins coalition to phase out fossil fuels at COP28

At COP28, Rwanda joined countries with a pledge to triple the world’s installed renewable energy generation capacity, of which solar power is part, to at least 11,000 GW by 2030, taking into consideration different starting points and national circumstances.

The commitment follows the September 2023 Nairobi Declaration of the Africa Climate Summit that committed to "increase Africa’s renewable generation capacity from 56 GW in 2022 to at least 300 GW by 2030”.

Rwanda aims to have 60 per cent of its energy come from renewable sources such as hydropower and solar by 2030.

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"The renewable energy such as solar, and hydropower from projects like the Nyabarongo 2 power plant could also help us tap into the carbon market,” noted Martin Musonera, a carbon finance specialist at Rwanda Energy Group (REG).

Rwanda is steadily shifting towards renewable energy. Nearly 40 per cent of its power is derived from hydropower, while solar contributes a modest portion, under 10 per cent.

Call for just transition from fossil fuels to renewables

At COP28, most countries by now agree that a pivot or transition away from fossil fuel production or consumption to renewables is inevitable, but a key issue African leaders are pushing is the continent’s right to a just transition.

African countries, many of them low and middle-income developing economies, are negotiating for opportunities to accelerate their fossil fuel production to enable them to industrialise before reinvesting those gains in green energy sources.

The argument is that since developed countries became so by burning fossils to build factories and create generational wealth, African countries too, must be given the chance to accelerate their development and provide energy to the millions lacking it on the continent, using these same fuels, particularly gas, which is seen as less polluting by some.

The writer is reporting from the 28th UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai.

This story was produced with assistance from MESHA and IDRC Eastern and Southern Africa Office for science journalists reporting on COP28.