Global Off-Grid Solar Forum & Expo Underscores Sector Growth and $11.4 Billion Investment Need in Kigali
KIGALI, Rwanda, Global Off-Grid Solar Forum — More than 1,000 investors, policymakers, business leaders, and development partners are gathered this week at the Kigali Convention Centre for the Global Off-Grid Solar Forum & Expo 2026, the premier international platform for advancing off-grid solar energy access.
Running from October 27 to 29 and co-organized by GOGLA, the global off-grid solar association, and the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP), with support from the Government of Rwanda, the three-day event focuses on scaling investment, innovation, and impact. It forms part of a broader program that included a government policy dialogue on October 26 and will feature field visits and technical workshops on October 30.
The 9th edition of the forum arrives as the off-grid solar sector shows clear momentum. On the opening day, ESMAP and GOGLA released the Off-Grid Solar Market Trends Report 2026. It reveals that the number of people using solar home systems, water pumps, generators, lanterns, and other off-grid solar products rose 26 percent over the past two years, from 118 million to 149 million.
Off-grid solar remains the least-cost solution for at least 398 million people still without electricity and serves as a vital complement to the grid in hard-to-reach areas. The report estimates that realizing the sector’s potential to connect hundreds of millions more people by 2030 will require about $11.4 billion in investment—roughly $1.3 billion annually in grants and affordability subsidies, plus $1.6 billion a year in equity, debt, and receivables financing.
Additional findings highlight broader benefits. Over the past 15 years, off-grid solar products have generated an estimated $28 billion in additional income and savings for customers. The surveyed market now employs 219,000 people, a 29 percent increase in two years, with most roles filled by local agents and technicians. Product reliability is strong: 95 percent of customers report that their solar home systems continue functioning four or more years after purchase.
Sessions throughout the forum address key themes under the banner of Powering Lives, Putting Solar to Work, and Financing for the Future. Discussions cover financing mechanisms, policy frameworks, productive uses of renewable energy (including solar irrigation, cold chains, and agro-processing), mini-grids, clean cooking, electric mobility, quality standards, circularity, and market development for energy-efficient appliances. An exhibition showcases the latest technologies, storage solutions, digital tools, and AI applications, while networking opportunities aim to forge new partnerships and transactions.
Rwanda’s selection as host reflects its progress in electrification, digital innovation, and green growth. The gathering supports broader efforts such as Mission 300, which seeks to connect 300 million people in sub-Saharan Africa to electricity by 2030, with distributed renewable energy expected to play a major role.
As participants continue deliberations on the second day of the main program, the focus remains on translating commercial progress into scaled energy access, job creation, and economic opportunity for the hundreds of millions still living without reliable electricity.
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