Bulletin March 2017
EUEI Bulletin
Selected news and information on European Energy Development Cooperation
No. 9 | March 2017
Dear EUEI Members, dear Readers,
Please find below this month’s EUEI Bulletin.
As always, we hope it provides a useful overview of policy and projects in energy development cooperation, in Europe and beyond, and helps support your preparation for the forthcoming EUEI Advisory Board Meeting, taking place in Brussels on the 13th of March.
We look forward to featuring ideas, stories, experiences, facts and figures from your work – and to seeing you soon.
With regards from Brussels,
Your team of the EUEI support project, EUEI PDF
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Africa Energy Indaba & Women in Energy; 21-22 February 2017; Johannesburg, South Africa | Event Details
- First Caribbean Sustainable Development Forum; 21-23 February 2017; Oranjestad, Aruba | Event Details
- 15th EU-OCT Forum and 15th OCTA Ministerial Conference; 21-24 February 2017; Oranjestad, Aruba | Event Details
- World Sustainable Energy Days; 1-3 March 2017; Wels, Austria | Event Details
- RECAM Clean Energy Central America and Caribbean; 7-9 March; Panama City | Event Details
- Power Africa Partners Meeting; 7-8 March; Washington, D.C., USA
- Powering Africa Summit EnergyNet; 8-10 March; Washington DC, USA | Event Details
- 48th session of the UN Statistical Commission; 7-10 March; New York, USA | Event Details
- EUEI Advisory Board Meeting; 13March; Brussels, Belgium
- Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue; 20-23 March; Berlin, Germany | Event Details
- Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) Investment Forum; 22-23 March; Lisbon, Portugal | Event Details
- World Bio Markets; 27-29 March; Amsterdam, Netherlands | Event Details
- Power & Electricity World Africa; 28-29March; Johannesburg, South Africa | Event Details
- 1st Africa Energy Materials conference (AEM-2017); 28-31 March; Pretoria, South Africa | Event Details
- MEXIREC 2017 Renewable Energy Conference (IREC); 11-13 September; Mexico | Event Details
THEMATIC SECTIONS
News from the European Union: Including news on energy and migration, ElectriFI’s second call for proposals, and the Global Covenant of Mayors
In the Spotlight: With record funding for the EBRD and calls for the AEEP Young Leaders in Energy Access Award
Opportunities for the Private Sector: Enabling a Grand Challenge in sub-Saharan Africa and renewables in India
Africa Focus: With insights from the AU Summit, renewables in Burundi, and updates from Uganda and South Africa
News from the Member States: Covering new energy development cooperation strategies, plans an policies from numerous counties
Media Suggestions: Offering insights and tools
NEWS FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION
Energising the Migration Debate: EUEI Event sheds light on role of energy in development and humanitarian work
The EUEI Discussion Forum “Enlightening the Migration Debate: The Importance of Sustainable Energy Access” took place on the 31st of January in Brussels and attracted over 80 experts from the field, including members of the European Commission, EU Member State representatives, energy policy actors, and development and humanitarian aid practitioners.
The event aimed to raise awareness of the interlinkages between sustainable energy access and migration, the role of partner countries and of the private sector, and explored the importance of implementing long-term plans. “It is time to switch policies: we need to rethink the way we do development”, Felice Zaccheo, Head of Unit at DG DEVCO C6, Sustainable Energy and Climate Change, emphasised in his opening keynote address. After a high-level panel discussion on policy, the rest of the day focused on practical examples and ongoing projects. Discussions highlighted the role of energy access as a cross-sectoral enabler of development, and underlined the existing interlinkages between development and humanitarian work. Participants strongly welcomed the initiative to bring the two communities together, and called for shared discussions – and joint action – to continue.
The input paper drawn up by the EUEI PDF, the Forum’s outcomes, and pictures, of the event, can be found here.
ElectriFI: Call for investment proposals open
The Electrification Financing Initiative (ElectriFI) has launched its second call for investment proposals. Through financing investments ElectriFI aims to address the lack of access to capital, stimulating the private sector and reducing barriers to investment in energy access in developing countries. The initiative was launched by the European Commission at COP21 in Paris, and finances projects and businesses that provide new electricity connections. The ElectriFI fund totals €116 million.
For further information about the call for proposals, including on the investment criteria and guidelines, please have a look at the ElectriFI website. Proposals can be submitted until the 8th of March.
Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy expands to India
The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy initiative will set up a new representation office in India to complement its existing regional offices in Europe, the Mediterranean and in sub-Saharan Africa.
The newly launched Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy merges the EU-led Covenants of Mayors and the UN Compact of Mayors initiatives. The initiative brings together over 7 000 member cities from all over the world with the aim of fostering voluntarily commits to fight climate change. Additionally, it aims to improve the collaboration between cities on sustainable urban development and climate action.
The regional office in India will be part of the International Urban Cooperation Programme and Mayors of megacities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad will all be joining the Global Covenant of Mayors. Further information on the Global Covenant of Mayors can be found here.
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Record levels of donor funds mobilized by EBRD in 2016 – new head of Energy and Natural Resources announced
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) mobilised donor funds worth €445 million in 2016. This is an increase of over 40 per cent compared to the previous year. Donor funds co-finance EBRD activities, many with the aim of strengthening the sustainable growth of the private sector. Around 50 % of donor funding is provided by the European Union, making it the largest single EBRD donor.
Additionally, Nandita Parshad has been appointed the new Managing Director of the EBRD's Energy and Natural Resources business group. For more information about the EBRD funds, please see here.
Call for proposals for low carbon energy projects in displacement settings
The Moving Energy Initiative (MEI) has issued a call for proposals to support investment in pilot projects which provide clean and reliable energy in displacement settings in Kenya, Burkina Faso and Jordan. The MEI is a collaboration between UNHCR, Energy4Impact, Chatham House, Practical Action Consulting as well as the Norwegian Refugee Council, and is funded by the UK Department for International Development.
The call for proposals is open to all organisations that meet the project criteria and have innovative ideas for solutions. The application form and further information including the project criteria can be found here.
AEEP Energy Access work stream calls for proposals for Young Leaders in Energy Access Award
Young leaders in Africa and Europe in the field of energy access, who demonstrate their unique contribution in bringing sustainable energy to local communities in Africa, are invited to apply for the Young Leaders in Energy Access Award. Five young leaders from Africa and Europe will be selected to participate at the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) Energy Access Investment Forum, to be held on March 22-23 in Lisbon. The Award ceremony will raise awareness for the activities and the work of the young leaders. Those selected will receive the opportunity to present their activities and recommendations to a wide group of energy experts and high-level stakeholders, and to broaden their knowledge of business opportunities for clean energy access.
The ARE Energy Access Investment Forum is organised by the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) with support of Energias de Portugal and the African-EU Renewable Energy Cooperation Programme (RECP). The event will focus on market conditions, key policy initiatives, business opportunities as well as financial and technical instruments that foster rural electrification projects.
Further information on the AEEP Energy Access Call for Young Leaders in Energy Access is available here; for more information on the ARE Energy Access Investment Forum please see here.
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OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR
Call for Proposals: Project development and financing initiative in India
The Private Financing Advisory Network (PFAN) India has launched a call for proposals for projects to participate in the Project Development and Financing Initiative. The aim of the initiative is to present to potential investors promising renewable energy and energy efficiency projects from India which are financially viable, socially responsible and environmentally beneficial.
The initiative is sponsored by the Government of Australia, the Department of Foreign Trade, and is hosted by UNIDO in cooperation with the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership. It is co-organised by Dawn Consulting and PPL International. Proposals can be submitted to india-1@cti-pfan.net, and further information about the call for proposals is available here.
Grand Challenge for Development launches funding call for off-grid energy in sub-Saharan Africa
The Clean Energy Solutions Center, in partnership with the Grand Challenge for Development (SOGE), is hosting a no-cost webinar to discuss SOGE's new funding opportunity. The SOGE is a partnership of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Power Africa, the UK Department for International Development's Energy Africa campaign (DFID), and the Shell Foundation.
The Grand Challenge aims to accelerate growth in the off-grid energy market and to provide energy access and services to 20 million households in sub-Saharan Africa. SOGE funds early stage companies and supports elements critical for the roll-out of off-grid systems. The focus of the funding opportunity is on increasing private sector investment in household solar and requires a 2:1 private investor commitment to proposed USAID funding.
Further details, including on applying, can be found here.
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New Commission elected at 28th African Union Summit
The 28th African Union Summit closed on January 31rst with the swearing-in of the new Commission of the African Union. New chairpersons of the African Union Commission (AUC) will be H.E. Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, and Deputy Chairperson, H.E. Mr. Thomas Kwesi Quartey. The new Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy is H.E. Ms. Amani Abou-Zeid from Egypt. In another important development at the Summit, the Kingdom of Morocco has re-joined the African Union.
The Summit was also occasion for a side-event on AREI, during which the initiative’s Board of Directors was elected. Comprising heads of state and government its members include Guinea for West Africa, Chad for Central Africa, Egypt for Northern Africa, Ethiopia for Eastern Africa, and Namibia for Southern Africa, as well as the AUC and the African Development Bank. The proposed External Board Members are, so-far, the EU and France. The forthcoming AREI Board meeting will take place on 1st-3rd of March in Guinea.
In related news, the first meeting of the Specialised Technical Committee (STC) on Transport, Transcontinental and Interregional Infrastructures, Energy and Tourism will be held on the 13-17 of March 2017 in Lomé, Togo under the theme “Financing Infrastructure in Africa”. The STCs were established to collaborate with the various departments of the AUC and will be involved in monitoring development programmes’ implementation by the AUC and regional economic communities.
For further information on the AU Summit and the new Commission, please see here.
RECP’s Finance Catalyst service to help increase Burundi’s installed electricity capacity by 14 %
The Finance Catalyst service of the Africa-EU Renewable Energy Cooperation Programme (RECP) has helped increase Burundi’s installed electricity capacity by 14 %.
Advised by RECP, a 7.5 MW solar PV plant with a value of $14 million as inaugurated on January 18th in Mubuga, Burundi. An abatement of 6 000 tons of CO2 by 2018 is projected thanks to the PV plant. The project is a pioneer project of Gigawatt Global and is the largest private international investment in Burundi’s power sector in the last decades.
The project is one out of 17 current projects receiving advice via the RECP’s Finance Catalyst service. The Finance Catalyst connects renewable energy projects and finance opportunities, and advises on project development. Burundi’s new PV plant is also the first successful recipient of Finance Catalyst support and demonstrates the value of international cooperation in the energy development sector.
For more information about Gigawatt Global’s PV plant, see here.
To learn more about the RECP Finance Catalyst service, please visit the RECP website.
South Africa: Zuma commits to renewable energy
In his state of the nation speech to parliament on the 9th of February, President Jacob Zuma affirmed his support for the country's Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REI4P) and the important role of renewables in South Africa’s energy mix. Zuma stated in his speech that ‘Eskom will sign the outstanding power purchase agreements for renewable energy, in-line with the procured rounds.’ Zuma’s commit for REI4P sent a strong message to investors and confirmed the openness of South Africa’s renewable energy industry for business.
The full speech can be found here.
Uganda: Government to extend renewable energy, countrywide
The Ugandan government aims to supply electricity to areas currently not connected to the grid through the development of renewable energy. To establish renewable energy as an alternative energy source the government has set up a renewable energy policy framework. This outlines strategies to increase renewable energy in Uganda. The renewable energy provider association will be strengthened by the government in order to extend their activities and to reduce existing market barriers.
More information is available here.
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Belgium and Finland
The Senior Energy Adviser for Development Policy at the Finish Ministry for Foreign Affairs recently spoke at the RECP event in Brussels. The round table discussion, implemented with the Belgian Technical Cooperation, brought together experts and practitioners on early stage development. Details can be found here.
Denmark
Denmark has published its new strategy for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Assistance. In it, the country confirms its commitment of spending 0.7 % of GDP on official development assistance. Read the new strategy here.
Germany
The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has launched a new strategy on cooperation with Africa, entitled “Africa and Europe – A new Partnership for Development and Peace. Cornerstones of a Marshall Plan with Africa”. The publication comes as Germany takes over the G20 Presidency and in the run-p to the Africa-EU Summit.
See German Development Minister Gerd Müller speak about the new plan here in this video interview in English.
Italy
Italy will make green finance a theme of its G7 programme in 2017, examining the role of financial centres for sustainability and the needs of small and medium sized enterprises. The priorities are laid out in a new report released by Italy's Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea (MATTM) and UN Environment, entitled “Financing the Future”. Read it here
Luxembourg
Luxembourg as reaffirmed its relationship with the European Investment Bank (EIB), celebrating ten years of cooperation to support micro and small enterprises in ACP countries. The fifth Memorandum of Understanding, signed between the Luxembourg Ministries of Finance and Foreign and European Affairs and the EIB builds on previous work providing technical assistance to microfinance. Details can be found here.
Sweden
Sweden has earmarked a sum of $2.5-3.5 million for research and development on renewable energy in India. Details about the proposal can be found here.
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- Working Paper: IISD, Global Subsidies Initiative and ODI: Zombie Energy: Climate benefits of ending subsidies to fossil fuel production. Here.
- Study: OECD: Private Sector Engagement for Sustainable Development: Lessons from the DAC. Here.
- Interview Statement: HR/VP Federica Mogherini; On the EU’s constant engagement with African regional institutions, on the 28th AU Summit and the upcoming EU-Africa Summit. Here.
- Report: IRENA: Planning for the renewable future: Long-term modelling and tools to expand variable renewable power in emerging economies. Here.
- Webinar: CDKN/ Ricardo Energy & Environment: Planning for NDC implementation using CDKN's Planning for NDC Implementation: A Quick Start Guide. Here.
- Report: Oxfam: The energy challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. Here.
- Online climate finance course: World Bank: Climate Finance: Innovative approaches supporting climate action; 25 April-24 May, registration closes 20 April. Here.
- Online resource: Power for All and partners: Selection of effective films and images for raising awareness about decentralised renewable energy systems. Here.
- Expect the Unexpected: The Disruptive Power of Low-carbon Technology. This report produced in partnership between Carbon Tracker and the Grantham Institute at Imperial College London analyses the potential for continued cost reductions in solar photovoltaics (PV) and electric vehicle (EV) technologies. Here
- Study: Stockholm Environment Institute:Catalysing investment in sustainable energy infrastructure in Africa: Overcoming financial and non-financial constraints. Here.
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