Content Type: Demonstration Projects

Clean Energy Access for Remote Pacific Island Countries – CLEARPICs
https://www.spc.int/ spc@spc.int
Summary

In Countries and Territories (PICTs) in the indo-Pacific access to electricity has increased from 31% of households on average in 2010 to 55% in 2018. Three of the largest and most populous PICTs, however, have the poorest electrification rates (by household) – Papua New Guinea (PNG) (47%), Solomon Islands (57%), and Vanuatu (64%). A mixed energy approach that continues to support the increasing demand for access to energy with the inclusion of some of the most remote and rural communities across the Pacific is critical towards achieving SDG7 and a shift away from fossil fuels to meet the countries Nationally Determined Contributions. Universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services is articulated in SDG 7, hence supporting remote and island-based communities to access energy and catalysing business opportunities will be transformative.

Existing hurdles and risks are high for private companies doing mini-grid projects in the PICTs. The remote nature of the islands and harsh marine environment poses challenges of accessibility and lack of economies of scale. Such unfavourable conditions result in a high cost and risk which prevents private companies from engaging. As a result, there has been a vacuum of responsibility for the sustainable operation of mini-grid projects, which in turn results in unsatisfactory performance and unfulfilled socio-economic benefits of mini-grid projects.

This new project is to support energy access across PICTs through research into technology applicability, scale and governance within case study countries by undertaking geographically specific research into opportunities for off-grid energy deployment within PICTs countries. The project includes five work packages with some delivered across all PICTs whereas others will be undertaken on a selection. The three PICTs that have the poorest electrification rates (PNG, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu) will be covered by specific tailored activities along with other PICTs that have made more energy access progress to help further progress pioneer markets and act as a reference case, such as Fiji.

Accelerate to Demonstrate (A2D) Facility
devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/projects AyrtonFund@beis.gov.uk
Summary

The Accelerate-to-Demonstrate (A2D) facility is part of the wider Clean Energy Innovation Facility (CEIF) funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) , and also aims to accelerate the commercialisation of innovative clean energy technologies in developing countries with a focus on critical minerals, clean hydrogen and cross-cutting themes such smart energy and industrial decarbonisation.

Clean Energy Innovation Facility (CEIF)
devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/projects AyrtonFund@beis.gov.uk
Summary

Clean Energy Innovation Facility (CEIF) is a programme funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) that aims to accelerate the commercialisation of innovative clean energy technologies in developing countries in key themes. The existing CEIF 1.0 programme under the platform focuses on industrial decarbonisation, sustainable cooling, smart energy, and energy storage.

Sierra Leone Hospital Electrification Project
www.seforall.org madhusagar.singh@seforall.org
Summary

Health service delivery in Sierra Leone remains hampered by a lack of reliable electricity access in health facilities. This impacts health facilities at all levels, with several key hospitals still unconnected to the national grid. Those hospitals that are connected to a grid continue to suffer from frequent power outages. With support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), SEforALL developed a ‘Market Assessment & Roadmap’ for the sustainable electrification of social infrastructure, most notable in the health and education sector. Building on the results of this assessment, SEforALL with co-funding from the FCDO is supporting a new health electrification project that will electrify unelectrified or under-electrified hospitals in Sierra Leone, which is expected to enable improved delivery of health services – particularly but not limited to maternal and child health services.

Pacific Clean Energy
devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/projects/ Gabriel.MontaguPollock@fcdo.gov.uk
Summary

Programme designed to improve access to affordable clean energy among Pacific Island Countries. It includes an initial UK investment of £3.5m to deliver renewable energy to the remote highlands of Papua New Guinea in partnership with Australia. This programme is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

SUNRISE
sunrisenetwork.org www.sunrisenetwork.org/contact-us/
Summary

SUNRISE is an international project that seeks to address global energy poverty through the research and development of next-generation solar technologies. The project is currently demonstrating the effectiveness of these technologies through a series of demonstrators in rural India. It is led by the Swansea University and unites several leading universities and industrial collaborators from the UK and Global South in a transdisciplinary research collaboration. It is supported by the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform.

Africa Clean Energy Programme (ACE)
ace-taf.org matthew.rees@fcdo.gov.uk
Summary

Regional programme including a Challenge Fund supporting start-ups or expansion of household solar energy businesses in nine countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and supporting the deployment of mini grids through the African Development Bank. This programme is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). This programme is now closed, but contact Matthew Rees in FCDO Africa Directorate if you have any questions.

Africa Regional Climate and Nature (ARCAN) Programme
devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/projects matthew.rees@fcdo.gov.uk
Summary

Announced at COP26 in Glasgow, this regional programme supports the World Bank’s Sustainable Renewables Risk Mitigation Initiative (SMRI) to demonstrate renewable energy technologies with storage at scale, and the African Development Bank’s Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) to support clean generation capacity by pairing battery storage alongside solar, wind, and other technologies, and support smart grid systems and clean cooking. This programme is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

BRILHO Mozambique
brilhomoz.com celma.loforte@fcdo.gov.uk
Summary

Country programme that expands rural household energy access by catalysing private sector innovation and investment and government support in Mozambique. It aims to increase domestic and business energy solutions through the supply of household solar, mini-grids, and improved cooking technologies. This programme is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Pioneering a Holistic Approach to Energy and Nature-Based Options in MENA (PHENOMENAL)
devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/projects/ Tara.Finn@fcdo.gov.uk
Summary

Five-year regional programme focused on priority countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) that includes a £50m contribution to the High Impact Partnership for Climate Action (HIPCA) – managed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) with an estimate of at least £25m for clean energy innovation/demonstration. The objective of HIPCA is to unleash investments and solutions that reduce or prevent greenhouse gas emissions, and strengthen resilience, including through clean energy innovations. This programme is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).