THE METHODOLOGY

(In this section you describe the approach, steps and methods
of your study. Please don’t turn it into a general discussion of
what a sample is, or of what a survey is, or such basic
definitions. Tell the story of how you do your research). Write a
bridging sentence here – don’t let a sub-heading follow on a
heading with no text in-between. And do not start new chapters
with an Introduction section.

3.1 Research design

(Indicate whether your study was exploratory, descriptive,
explanatory or predictive. Did you follow a qualitative,
quantitative or mixed research design?) This should be 2-3
paragraphs max.

This study will use a mixed research approach that includes both qualitative and quantitative
data collection and analysis in parallel form.
To determine an optimal investment decision between numerous generation technologies
and transmission options throughout Rwanda, this work will have to identify the cost-optimal
mix of technology that meet demand, reserve, technology and policy constraints. This will be
done by conduction a qualitative survey to determine available expansion measures and
qualitatively determine the most effective measures required for transmission and generation
expansion investment. This assessment will be done based on theoretical data and qualitative
information on energy policies, energy plans, specific projects for energy expansion,
technological trends in the energy sector, etc.

A quantitative method will help in sizing and quantifying candidate generation and
transmission facilities based on nominated conditions during the qualitative survey. Selection
of the preferable candidate infrastructure will be based on analytical relationship between
decision variables of the optimization model to be developed in order to determine an optimal
expansion plan.

The objective is to collect the necessary information, from adequate sources, with the
goal that this be used as the gateway to the
planning activities mentioned before. Information is characterized according to seven
dimensions or variables (see section 2) such as:
physical, technological, economic, environmental, legal, political, and social
information. This information may be numerical (mainly
statistical), but may also consist of qualitative information presented in the form of
policies, regulations, energy trends, etc., that may
be found in documental form.

Differing from the statistical data that are administratively managed, there are
documentary data that not only offer some type of
statistical information, but also provide qualitative information on energy policies,
energy plans, specific projects for energy expansion,
technological trends in determined areas of the energy sector, etc.
 3.2 Data sources
(Documentary sources, secondary sources, interviews, utilities and GoU agencies, life
histories, narratives, survey data, service data, personal observation, etc.) This should
be 2-3 paragraphs.
The main source of data is government agency specifically the ministry of infrastructure in
Rwanda, Utility companies, Secondary sources and interviews.
Data regarding power sector development in Rwanda will be collected from the Energy
Development Corporation Limited (EDCL) which is in charge of Increasing investment in
development of new energy generation projects and development of appropriate transmission
infrastructure in Rwanda. Also, information concerning operations and maintenance of existing
generation plants and transmission lines will be collected from The Energy Utility Corporation
Limited (EUCL). Finally, information related with energy policy, strategy and regulation in
Rwanda will be provided by the Ministry of infrastructure and Rwanda Utility and Regulation
Authority (RURA)

Apart from local primary and secondary data, A lot of statistics and detailed data regarding
renewable energy generation and potentials will be collected from the International Renewable
Energy Agency (IRENA). Extra statistical, measurement and survey data from ongoing projects
and country power sector in general will be downloaded on the website of the World Bank
Group through  Energy & Extractives Open Data Platform .
3.3 Data collection techniques
(For each source mentioned under sub-heading 3.2, say how you collected the data.
Describe how you obtained access to these data-sources. Describe how questionnaires,
network diagrams, etc. were designed and tested. Describe the context of data
collection: Where? When? How? NB There must be a compelling reason for using a
given technique. Give us as much detail as possible here – for example I approached
Umeme and obtained network data related to line parameters of resistance, reactance,
etc. I conducted personal interviews with engineers at UEGCL, using a semi-formal
interview schedule as attached in appendix A. etc. This should be 2-3 paragraphs.

Different data collection techniques will be applied to gather information and data from
various sources as shown the previous section.

Geographic information system (GIS)

Some of information and data provided by the EDCL and EUCL can be accessible
through Geographical information System (GIS) databases. These data provide
generation information of the national utility grid.
Documents Review 

A larger percentage of data will be collected from different offices as secondary data
collection mechanism. Information regarding utility grid development plan in Rwanda
will be provided by the EDCL. These are documents showing the status of electricity
generation, existing reserve capacity, transmission projects and respective ongoing
capacity expansion projects. Information of the network operation, electronic reports and
logs will be obtained from the EUCL which is the utility company in charger of network
operation and maintenance. Detailed and updated data regarding renewable energy
capacity, power generation and renewable energy balance will be accessed freely from
the database of the International Renewable Energy Agency.
 Using documents review is an accurate way of collecting data in this research because
of different reasons such as being relatively inexpensive while providing sufficient
background information and broad coverage of research data needed in this work. TO
access this files and documents, some are publicly available on Website (IRENA, EDCL
and EUCL) and others can be obtained by arranging a visit to their offices.

Face-to-face interviews
In case there are some missing information from the data collected above, a face-to-face
interview and site visit will be scheduled to collect data directly from the participants.
This will facilitate getting quality data as it provides a scope to ask detailed questions to
collect rich and informative data.


Rwanda Energy Group
Total Duration4 yrs 3 mos

TitleDirector of Generation & Transmission Development

TitleDirector of Energy Planning
TitleChief Engineer Power System Design
Power System Planning Specialist
Head of Generation Projects

3.4 Issues of reliability and validity

(This section will differ depending on your chosen approach. Quantitative designs have
very specific guidelines for reliability and validity. Read up on these and mention how
you dealt with reliability [consistency and stability of data] and validity of models created.
Qualitative designs focus on credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability).
This should be 2-3 paragraphs.
In order to ensure the validity and reliability of the content of the two questionnaires, the
questionnaires were reviewed by the official statisticians from the Department of tatistics
at the University of Pretoria. The two questionnaires were piloted with five secondary
schools in the Ehlanzeni Region of the Mpumalanga Department of Education to test
their validity and reliability. The following processes for ensuring validity and reliability,
legitimizing the data, and finally lending credibility to the research report were used for
his study.

Figure 4.4 represents the three data sources used in this study, namely: literature review,
questionnaires, and interviews. The literature review was used to provide secondary data
which assisted the researcher to formulate questions for the questionnaires; the questions
for the deputy principals‘ and HODs‘ questionnaires were drawn directly from the
literature.
The findings from the analyzed questionnaires informed the types of questions which
wereincluded in the interview schedule for principals. Four types of triangulation are
identified by Denzin (1994). Only two of these were used for the purposes of this study,
namely data triangulation and methodological triangulation.

Data triangulation concerns itself with the use of various data sources, and in this study,
interviews, questionnaires, and an in-depth literature review were conducted.
Methodological triangulation concerns itself with the use of both qualitative and
quantitative methods in the same study. A detailed exploration of the two research
methods has already been provided in the preceding sections of this study.
Triangulation offered the following benefits for this study: it provided additional sources
of valuable insight that could not be obtained from the literature review alone; it
minimized the inadequacies of single-source research by engaging three data sources
which complemented
Determining the accuracy of the documents may involve comparing the documents that contain
similar information, checking the documents against other data you have collected, and speaking with
people who were involved in the development of the documents.

3.5 Sampling techniques

(This should fit with the aims and objectives of your study. If you wish to generalize your
findings, you must use a probability sampling technique. Probability samples [simple
random, stratified, cluster, etc.] require a sampling frame. If you are using this, describe
your proposed sampling method, sampling frame, planned and realized sample sizes. If
you have chosen a qualitative approach, make sure you understand the appropriate
sampling techniques in qualitative research [keep in mind that purposive sampling and
snowball sampling are the only sampling techniques permissible for this level of
academic research]. If you are planning secondary analysis of an existing data set, you
will have to describe the sampling techniques employed by the body that collected the
data. Relate your sampling to what you wish to do – if, for example you choose to
compare subgroups within your sample This should be 2-3 paragraphs.

Purposive Sampling: This sampling is based on personal preference and

judgment. You select only participants who you think will provide you with the kind of information you
need. So, it is based on the researcher’s opinion and decision.

Expert Sampling: You select only the experts. You know that such participants or respondents are
knowledgeable and will give you the information you require.
Snow Ball Sampling: In such an exercise, you first select a few individuals of the target population. After
they have provided you with the necessary information, ask them to suggest suitable people to participate in
a similar interview or survey.

3.6 Definitions of key terms, concepts and variables

(Here, you should give conceptual definitions [from literature] as well as operational
definitions [that is how you measured this in your study]. It is hard to give a word limit
here, since it depends on your study. Put this section at the end of the methodology.

3.7 Data analysis and interpretation

(Here you will have to discuss your method of analyzing the data collected, data
processing and, where appropriate, the type of statistical methods to be used.
Congruence between your research problem, research objectives, chosen approach,
data gathering technique and your analysis and interpretation strategies are of the
utmost importance. You should consider how you captured your data and the software
package (e.g. Excel, etc.) you used to analyze your data. This should be 2-3
paragraphs.

3.9 Power System Modeling

Describe the process and model that you will use to develop your model and the details
of the modelling software, the inputs to the model and the outputs and expected results.

3.9 Pretest or case study

(Describe the selected case study, giving details of location, maps (if applicable),
electricity networks (e.g. single line network diagrams), population (if applicable), and
justify why you selected this case study. Use adequate space and visual illustrations for
this section.