People commonly use alternative electrical power sources in many parts of the world. Commercial establishments frequently rely on diesel or petrol generators due to the challenges of connecting large populations to high-voltage power lines. Geography often makes widespread access to electricity difficult, especially in remote areas.
The United Nations has prioritized global access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy by 2030. This goal has inspired Waya Energy Inc., a startup supported by the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI) and Comillas Pontifical University in Madrid, to help governments find the most cost-effective ways to provide electrical power to their citizens.
Waya Energy’s president, Reja Amatya who earned a PhD from MIT in 2012, and four co-founders quickly saw the potential commercial, professional, and developmental opportunities in delivering electricity to underserved areas. However, they also recognized the scale of the problem, as the hilly terrain would make it challenging to connect the village to high-voltage lines from the capital, Kigali, 31 miles away.
Waya’s Reference Electrification Model (REM) software retrieves information from population density maps, geospatial points of interest, infrastructure data, and satellite imagery to determine if extending the grid will be most cost-effective. Alternatively, it offers more practical solutions to serve single villages, such as mini-grids powered by renewables like wind, hydropower, or solar. This model for universal regional electrification, known as the Integrated Distribution Framework, emphasizes the importance of planning, innovative business models, and regulatory enhancements to ensure viable long-term outcomes.
Waya Energy has received funding from the African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, and Inter-American Development Bank for Latin America. These regional companies understand the electricity problems in their regions. The World Bank has also supported government efforts to develop electrification plans in 22 countries on nearly every continent.
