In the framework of the second UN SE4All forum, the clean energy mini-grids high impact opportunity (HIO) working group presented the first edition of a mapping tool covering clean energy mini-grid support providers.
Available as a written publication and online, the mapping tool is an ideal resource for project developers.
The session on mini-grids, moderated by Richenda van Leuven (UNF) generated a lot of interest from attendees. With an increase in registration from 1,500 to 2,500 this year at the SE4All forum, universal access to clean energies is gaining more attention worldwide.
The clean energy mini-grid sector is crucial in providing clean energy access and alleviating poverty in developing countries but is hampered by barriers such as early stage market fragmentation and unmade linkages.
To address the issue, the clean energy mini-grids HIO set out to map public, philanthropic and commercial sources of funding, technical and other support for the clean energy mini-grids.
To do so, the Alliance for Rural Electrification, on behalf of the HIO, collected information on the relevant activities of stakeholders from the clean energy mini-grids value chain.
The project was made possible by the financial support of the Rockefeller Foundation and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) and, more importantly, by the input from stakeholders in mini-grid markets. The results are reflected in a publication for the benefit of all stakeholders and as a web tool, where users can filter the aspects relevant to their needs.
David Lecoque, policy and business development officer at ARE, said: "It is a great pleasure for ARE and its membership to be a proactive supporter of the SE4All initiative. From a practitioner's point of view, we feel it is incredibly useful to have a good oversight of financial, technical and other support for clean energy mini-grids provided by public, private and CSO organisations, reflected in an easy-to-use web tool and a publication. It is also very positive to see the level of commitment by the private sector, which is incentivized by the public sector to build and grow this highly promising market to help achieve universal access to sustainable energy."
Dean Cooper, energy finance programme manager at UNEP and current chair of the clean energy mini-grids HIO co-ordination group, was pleased the HIO has produced a practical output that will attract widespread interest.
"It's very important for us to turn the positive words about potential for clean energy mini-grids into real action on the ground," he said. "We must move from the talking to the walking. Finding the support necessary to turn new ideas into practice has been a key barrier. This mapping tool is still only the first version, but it's already a big step forward we hope that many others will now ask to be referenced in this directory, and will join the HIO."
http://ruralelec.org/55.0.html?&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=312&tx_ttnews[backPid]=43&cHash=a03bc2c800
