Idjwi, an island located between North and South Kivu in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has long been without an electrification system. The island's inhabitants, estimated at 330,000, have lived without electricity since colonial times. However, a glimmer of hope has emerged thanks to an innovative collaboration between GoShop and Équatorial Power, aimed at changing this paradigm.
In partnership with Equatorial Power, a company specializing in mini-grid 2.0 validation, GoShop has committed to establishing four power plants on the island, located in the Rubenga and Ntambuka clusters. The ambitious goal of this initiative is to connect over 2,500 households, or around 15,000 inhabitants, to a reliable and sustainable source of energy.
Technical Specifications by Site
BUNYAKIRI
- PV Solar Array: 36 x 450W panels
- Inverter PV: 27 inverters of 27 kW (Fronius)
- Inverter Charger: 30 x 10 kVA inverters
- Energy Storage BYD Flex: 95 x 5 kWh batteries
BUYUMBU
- PV Solar Array: 36 x 450W panels
- Inverter PV: 27 inverters of 27 kW (Fronius)
- Inverter Charger: 30 x 10 kVA inverters
- BYD Flex Energy Storage: 95 x 5 kWh batteries
KASHIRABOBA
- PV Solar Array: 82.8 450W panels
- Inverter PV: 54 inverters of 27 kW (Fronius)
- Inverter Charger: 60 X 10 kVA inverters
- Victron MPPT charger: 250/100
- BYD Flex Energy Storage: 110 x 5 kWh batteries
MUGOTE
- PV Solar Array: 114 450W panels
- Inverter PV: 81 inverters of 27 kW (Fronius)
- Inverter Charger: 90 X 10 kVA inverters
- Victron MPPT Charger: 250/70
- BYD Flex Energy Storage: 225 x 5 kWh batteries
The implementation of these solar power plants does more than just supply electricity. It radically transforms the lives of local residents, giving them access to essential services such as education, health and economic activities. A resident of Buyumbu shares his experience: "For a person who has never seen electricity and sees it today, he can sleep hungry yet satiated just by seeing this light in his house.
A nurse at the Bunyakiri health center also expressed her gratitude: "I've been a doctor at the Bunyakiri health center for 16 years. We had difficulties either in the maternity ward or in observing patients. We were using solar panels and they often broke down. And we started using torches in the maternity ward and ended up delivering babies with just a torch. It was a real pain for all of us. When we heard about the power, we were overjoyed because we had already suffered so much. We believe that this will help us to improve the quality of care for our patients."
This collaboration marks a decisive turning point for the island of Idjwi. By providing a sustainable energy solution and improving the quality of life of its inhabitants, this initiative perfectly illustrates the power of innovation and collaboration to overcome development challenges.
GoShop continues to work tirelessly to expand its projects and bring sustainable energy solutions to more communities across the Democratic Republic of Congo. Together, we're lighting up the future, one village at a time.
