Centennial and CrossBoundary Energy donate solar energy plant and café to Kigali Genocide Memorial

2 February 2022—Centennial Generating Co. (Centennial) and CrossBoundary Energy (CBE), the operators of the solar installation at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, are donating the system to the museum management and operations team led by Aegis Trust. The donation includes handover of the solar project and the memorial café, where the solar panels are located.  The café will be renamed the Harriet S. Frenkil Center.

The Kigali Genocide Memorial attracts nearly 100,000 annual visitors to remember the victims of the genocide against the Tutsi in 1994. The solar installation on the museum grounds supplies the museum’s three buildings with over 15,000 kWh of electricity per year. Since commissioning in 2016, the fully financed solar PV system has supplied the Kigali Genocide Museum with 120,000 kWh at cost lower than grid power. Centennial is the project developer and system installer and provides ongoing maintenance, while CrossBoundary Energy financed the solar PV project and manages asset performance.

“We are exceptionally grateful for the partnership with Centennial and CBE. The solar power system has helped to reduce our operating costs, meaning more funds can be directed to our programs. We are also very pleased this has improved the sustainability of the memorial, reducing our carbon footprint, as climate change is a major issue. The installation also extended the museum café area, where we have been able to host groups and expand own income from café services, creating multiple benefits,” said Freddy Mutanguha, Executive Director, Aegis Trust. Freddy is a survivor of the genocide. He was 18 years old in 1994 and lost 80 members of his family, including his parents and four of his brothers and sisters. His youngest sibling was just three years old at the time.

Aegis Trust Chief Executive, Dr. James M. Smith CBE, said, “We are delighted to name the museum café in honor of Harriet S. Frenkil, she had an important influence upon her grandson, David, who has been the driving force behind this important project.”

“The Kigali Genocide Memorial stands as a sacred place not only in confronting the depth of the terror of the genocide, but in honoring the legacy of its victims and its survivors,” said David John Frenkil, Founder and Managing Director of Centennial.  “As one of the first organizations to adopt renewable energy at a commercial scale in Rwanda, Aegis Trust has led in the energy transition to net zero emissions since 2016.  We are honored to continue to offer maintenance for the solar project for years to come, and to donate the Harriet S. Frenkil Center to the Kigali Genocide Memorial.”

“We were honored to supply financing and clean energy in support of Aegis Trust’s noble mission and in support of the survivors of the genocide, bringing dignity to their loved ones through our support for this internationally significant memorial. It is fitting that this memorial meant to stand the test of time is powered by self-sustaining energy,” said Pieter Joubert, President and Chief Investment Officer for CrossBoundary Energy.

About Centennial

www.centennialgen.com

Centennial is a power company in the United States and 6 countries in Africa that finances, engineers, builds and operates on-site solar and battery energy storage projects for commercial and industrial facilities. Since 2014, customers have included Fortune 500 companies and publicly-traded businesses, as well as other leading industrial operations.  Learn more at www.centennialgen.com.

About CrossBoundary Energy

CrossBoundary Energy is a leading developer, owner, and operator of distributed renewable energy solutions for businesses across Africa, providing cheaper and cleaner energy through power purchase and lease agreements. CrossBoundary Energy is currently delivering a portfolio of over US$230M of solar renewable energy assets for clients including Unilever, Diageo, Rio Tinto, and Heineken, and was recognized by African Solar Industry Association as “Solar Company of the Year”.

CrossBoundary Energy is a member company of the CrossBoundary Group, a mission-driven investment firm founded in 2011 and committed to unlocking the power of capital for sustainable growth and strong returns in underserved markets. Learn more at www.crossboundary.com.