Table of contents

1. Project purpose

The purpose of the proposal is to develop a UNECE standard on off-grid renewable energy PPP projects in support of the SDGs. The purpose is to: 

i)      Provide informative context for member States wishing to develop off-grid rural electrification PPP projects that reflect current good practices and support the achievement of the SDGs;
ii)     Use PPP examples and international best practices as empirical evidence for policy options and recommendations to develop off-grid renewable energy projects; and
iii)    Create awareness of relevant international PPP trends and practices in the off-grid renewable energy sector as well as the potential contribution of the PPPs for the SDGs approach to provide clear energy to rural communities.

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2. Project scope

SDG 7 calls for governments and stakeholders to ensure “access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all”, and sets ambitious targets by 2030 to ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services (7.1), to increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix (7.2), to double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency (7.3), to enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology (7.a), and expand infrastructure and upgrade technology for supplying modern and sustainable energy services for all in developing countries (7.b). Thus, it is crucial to accelerate the electrification of remote locations through sustainable energy, specifically renewable energy.

The scope of the standard is to provide examples of off-grid rural electrification PPPs and highlight some of the important aspects of delivering off-grid electrification PPPs to contribute to achieving the SDGs and to present a set of voluntary policy options and recommendations based on case studies from around the world. The standard will build on the ECE Standard on PPPs in Renewable Energy (2018) and will benefit from input by the ECE Group of Experts on Renewable Energy.[1]

[1] The ECE Group of Experts on Renewable Energy, serviced by the Sustainable Energy Division, provided useful comments in 2018 during the preparation of the ECE Standard on PPPs in Renewable Energy.

3. Project deliverables

The expected deliverables are:

1. A review of existing PPP examples and best practices in off-grid rural electrification powered by renewable energy;
2. A review of the wider energy infrastructure requirements for the establishment and management of a robust PPP off-grid renewable energy programme aligned with the SDGs and the five ECE desirable outcomes; and
3. A standard on off-grid renewable energy with policy options and recommendations.

4. Geographical focus

The focus of ECE standards is the ECE region but may be applicable more broadly. Experiences and samples from all around the world should therefore be taken into account.

5. Project team membership and required functional expertise

Drafting Team leadership

The drafting team’s leader/co-leads are to be decided by the Bureau of the Working Party upon recommendation by the secretariat.

Drafting Team membership and required functional expertise

Membership is open to experts with broad knowledge in the area of PPP and infrastructure projects in the renewable energy sector (on and off-grid), sustainable infrastructure and experience with how these projects were implemented in countries.

6. Project leadership

7. Resource requirements

Participants in the drafting process shall provide resources for their own participation. The existence and functioning of the Drafting Team shall not require any additional resources from the UNECE secretariat.

8. Timetable