Rwanda Green Growth Strategy 18nov11 - Global Climate Change ...

Chapter 6Data collectionand researchMonitoring andEvaluationPolicy makingImplementationProgrammedesign andplanningFigure 18: Ongoing process for implementation of climate resilience and low carbon development6.1 Big WinsAmongst all the recommended actions in the Strategy, there are a few ‘big wins’ that, ifimplemented, will make a significant impact on mitigation, adaptation and low carbon economicdevelopment. These are likely to produce the greatest return on investment for Rwanda as they impact thewhole economy in the long term. More details regarding each ‘big win’ are found in the Sector WorkingPapers in Appendix B. They have been split into low carbon development/mitigation and resilience/adaptation, though there are synergies between them. As the three largest sources of GHG emissions,agriculture, energy and transport are all addressed in the mitigation ‘big wins’, which will enable low carbondevelopment, increase food and energy security and reduce vulnerability to oil price spikes. They would allqualify for climate finance.Low Carbon Development / Mitigation1. Geothermal power generation: Geothermal power is a clean, renewable, reliable and large-scaleenergy resource. There is an estimated potential of up to 700MW of geothermal power in Rwandaand this would exceed domestic electricity demand by 2020 if implemented. It uses knowntechnology and could produce electricity at four times less the cost of diesel generated electricitycurrently in use in Rwanda. It could replace oil-fuelled power plants which currently supply 38MWof electricity and result in high GHG emissions and are vulnerable to oil price spikes. Geothermalpower has near zero emissions, making it eligible for carbon credits. It is a domestic resource, notshared with neighbouring countries like methane in Lake Kivu and hydropower on the Rusizi andRusumo Rivers, and has relatively small land use impact, unlike peat. Geothermal energy,together with other renewable energy sources, will provide energy security, reduce energy costsand vulnerability to external economic shocks and ultimately promote economic development.40Government of Rwanda