The Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) is looking for a consultant to provide technical and engineering services for round 3 of its $48.9 million funding round to be launched for the implementation of the Renewable Energy Fund (REF).
Rwanda has raised $48.9 million under the Scaling-up Renewable Energy Program (SREP) to implement REF, approved by the World Bank. The REF is aimed at increasing electricity access in rural areas of Rwanda through off-grid technologies, and facilitate private sector participation in such electrification to benefit Rwandan households and small & medium enterprises through standalone solar systems and mini-grids.
Under round 3 (or window 3) of the REF, the government aims to finance solar PV and/or mini-hydro mini-grids and could possibly consider biomass-fueled mini-grids. These hybrid mini grids need to be powered by renewable energy with batteries and/or diesel generators.
Project capacities will range from below 10 kW micro-grids to macro-grids of up to 1 MW. It expects most applications to come for mini-grids with under 100 kW of peak demand.
The technical consultant to be engaged under the solicitation will be expected to undertake technical due diligence of loan applications for the 3rd round, carry out technical appraisal of the project from pre-feasibility, feasibility to the business plan.
The consultant will evaluate the efficacy, veracity and viability of investment project proposals through document reviews and site visits. Selected consultant will be hired for 24 months.
Last date for interested consultants to submit applications is December 30, 2021, as per the BRD website.