Rwanda Hosts Energy Week 2025: A Turning Point for Africa’s Clean Energy Transition

This September, Rwanda will once again become the meeting ground for some of the world’s most influential voices in clean energy. From September 8 to 12, 2025, the Renewable Energy for Sustainable Growth (RE4SG) Conference & Exhibition — better known as Energy Week — will return for its 5th edition under the theme “Empowering Africa’s Energy Future: Innovation, Transition, and Sustainability.“

The event, organized by the Energy Private Developers (EPD) in partnership with Strathclyde University and the Global Renewables Centre, has grown into one of Africa’s most important platforms for renewable energy dialogue and collaboration.

Building on Four Successful Editions

Energy Week is not new to Kigali. Previous editions held in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2024 have left a mark on Rwanda’s energy landscape. They have helped spark investment, influenced national policy, and brought international attention to Rwanda’s clean energy ambitions. Past gatherings showcased innovations in green transport, access to clean cooking, climate finance, and gender inclusion in the energy transition.

This year, organizers say, the conference is set to be the most ambitious yet — broadening the conversation from Rwanda’s progress to Africa’s collective future.

What to Expect This Year

Over the course of five days, Energy Week will bring together government leaders, international donors, private investors, innovators, and community voices. The program blends high-level plenaries, hands-on site visits, and a vibrant exhibition space at Norrsken House Kigali.

The conference itself (September 9–10 at Norrsken House Kigali too) will open with remarks from Rwanda’s Minister of Infrastructure alongside leaders from the EU, the Rwanda Development Board, and the Global Renewables Centre. The sessions that follow will explore some of the continent’s most urgent energy questions:
• How can Rwanda meet its target of 100% electricity access and 60% renewables by 2030?
• What role will the World Bank and AfDB’s Mission 300 initiative play in connecting 300 million Africans to clean power?
• Can the so-called “billion-dollar question” of clean cooking finally be solved?
• What does Africa’s electric mobility future look like, and how can grids keep up?
• And how can women and young innovators continue to shape a more inclusive energy transition?

The exhibition, running throughout the week, will showcase everything from solar irrigation pumps and e-mobility solutions to clean cooking stoves and financing platforms. It will also serve as a hub for networking and matchmaking, where business deals and partnerships often begin.

Seeing Energy in Action

Beyond panels and presentations, Energy Week 2025 offers something equally valuable: the chance to see projects on the ground. Delegates will visit a 50MW methane gas power plant, a solar-powered irrigation scheme, a flagship hydropower facility, as well as e-mobility charging and assembly stations. A clean cooking stove and fuel manufacturing plant will also open its doors, grounding big-picture discussions in real-life impact.

And while the week will feature major announcements and technical debates, its spirit remains deeply human. As EPD’s leadership often emphasizes, energy is not only about grids and power lines—it is about creating opportunity, dignity, and a sustainable future for communities across Africa.

Why It Matters

For Rwanda, Energy Week is about more than hosting another international event. It is about positioning itself as a continental leader in the clean energy transition — a country showing that ambitious targets can be matched with practical action. For Africa, the week provides a chance to confront hard realities — from financing gaps to policy bottlenecks — while also celebrating the innovation and resilience that are driving progress.

Looking Ahead

By the close of the week, organizers expect new partnerships to be announced, investment commitments to be made, and stories of progress to be shared widely. More importantly, they hope the event will leave participants with a renewed sense of urgency — and optimism — for the road toward universal, sustainable, and inclusive energy access.

Energy Week 2025 is not just a conference. It is a statement: that Africa’s energy future will be shaped by innovation, collaboration, and a shared commitment to sustainability.