Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership: Difference between revisions
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| ⚫ | The '''Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership''' ('''REEEP''') is a Vienna-based international organisation that advances markets for [[renewable energy]] and [[Efficient energy use|energy efficiency]] with a particular emphasis on the [[emerging markets]] and [[developing countries]]. Its primary focus is in de-risking and scaling up [[clean energy]] business models. |
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REEEP stands as a unique partnership dedicated to accelerating the transition towards sustainable energy solutions. It aims to mobilise financing to build dynamic, sustainable markets and ultimately make clean energy technology accessible and affordable for peri-urban and rural populations. Through a combination of financial instruments, capacity building, facilitation of stakeholder cooperation and technical assistance, REEEP’s programmes fill financing and knowledge gaps and drive private sector investment, enabling frontier markets to thrive. REEEP works closely with stakeholders across the public and private sectors to ensure holistic programme design and implementation are rooted in local needs, decreasing risk in clean energy investment to create long-lasting ecosystem change. |
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| ⚫ | The '''Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership''' ('''REEEP''') is a Vienna-based |
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==Origins== |
==Origins== |
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From January 2003 until May 2004, the REEEP was housed within the UK [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]] (FCO) where it continued following the UN Type II Partnership<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/partnerships/partnerships.htm|title=United Nations Division for Sustainable Development - Partnerships for Sustainable Development|website=www.un.org|access-date=2019-09-03|archive-date=2019-11-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101201115/https://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/partnerships/partnerships.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> process of stakeholder consultation. In June 2004, REEEP obtained formal, legal non-profit status as an [[NGO|international NGO]] and has since been located at the UN complex in [[Vienna]], [[Austria]]. In 2016, REEEP was granted status as a ''quasi-international organisation'' in Austria, along with four other organisations. |
From January 2003 until May 2004, the REEEP was housed within the UK [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]] (FCO) where it continued following the UN Type II Partnership<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/partnerships/partnerships.htm|title=United Nations Division for Sustainable Development - Partnerships for Sustainable Development|website=www.un.org|access-date=2019-09-03|archive-date=2019-11-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101201115/https://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/partnerships/partnerships.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> process of stakeholder consultation. In June 2004, REEEP obtained formal, legal non-profit status as an [[NGO|international NGO]] and has since been located at the UN complex in [[Vienna]], [[Austria]]. In 2016, REEEP was granted status as a ''quasi-international organisation'' in Austria, along with four other organisations. |
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== |
===reegle.info=== |
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| ⚫ | [[reegle]] (in lower-case) was a clean energy information portal designed to provide easy access to highly reliable information on [[renewable energy]] and [[Efficient energy use|energy efficiency]]. The website draws information from eight different open data sources such as the World Bank, UNdata, OpenEI, the CIA Factbook, and the REEEP Sustainable Energy Regulation Network publications to provide understanding of energy issues. |
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| ⚫ | reegle was developed by REEEP in collaboration with [[REN21]], and was funded by the governments of Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom. As of March 2012, the website attracted an average of 220,000 users per month. During 2011, 59% of its users came from Africa and Asia, underlining the site's character as an information resource for developing countries and emerging markets. reegle was an advocate of the Linked Open Data movement, which seeks to make public data available on the web in open formats that are machine-readable. |
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It pursues its market catalyst role via an approach it calls "Invest – Learn – Share": |
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==REEEP's approach== |
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===Invest=== |
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A typical REEEP Invest-Learn-Share effort begins with a country or regional level analysis to determine market gaps and opportunities for [[clean technology]] deployment; a stakeholder landscape to understand key players and influencers; and an assessment of medium to long-term (5 to 15-year) market potential for delivering climate and sustainable development outcomes. These assessments are synthesised into a project strategy outlining technology and sector targets; investment vehicles and volumes; policy and regulatory considerations; ecosystem stakeholders and evidence requirements; and engagement strategies. |
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The organization advocates for global initiatives outlined in the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly emphasizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at ensuring universal access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy while combating climate change and enhancing resilience. Its endeavours extend to addressing food security, environmental preservation, poverty eradication, gender equality and fostering economic growth, particularly in underserved regions. |
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The investment solicitation and selection process begins once capitalisation has been secured through donor agreements. The process is typically launched via a call for proposals. Specifics of the call are adaptable, and depend on the realities of the market, as well as upon timing and administrative requirements of donors and local stakeholders. In some cases, multiple capital pools may be combined into a single call for proposals; in other cases, beneficiaries are identified through recommendations from expert networks and approached on an ad hoc basis. |
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REEEP's primary focus is on advancing clean energy solutions for off-grid and distributed small-scale power systems, as well as promoting the productive utilization of clean energy within agricultural and food value chains. Operating on a global scale, its current emphasis is on low- and lower-middle-income nations across sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia. |
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In those cases where capitalisation is provided through a debt-issuing revolving fund, smaller calls for proposals may be issued as the fund is recapitalised by loan repayments. These innovative vehicles represent a promising new approach to growing investment in sectors that have fallen through the finance cracks due to ticket sizes (too large for microfinance, too small for private equity or commercial debt). |
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REEEP's strength lies in its extensive global network of experts and collaborators. Through its diverse programs, the organization fosters collaboration among governments, international entities, the private sector, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), civil society, and local stakeholders. These partnerships are designed to endure beyond REEEP's direct involvement, ensuring sustainable and impactful outcomes on the ground. |
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As part of a proposal SMEs are required to submit an application form, including a draft business plan, demonstrating their ability to provide a viable, clean technology-based product or service to a market in a least developed country (LDC) or middle-income country (MIC). SMEs are challenged to demonstrate how a business plan will lead to certain outcomes connected to REEEP's core principles: reducing the effects of climate change and building local prosperity. In some cases, these outcomes may be integrated into the selection processes as specific procurement objectives, allowing for results-based financing. |
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REEEP's distinctive methodology relies on extensive on-the-ground experience and the nimbleness and expertise of its small team, allowing for innovation, adaptation, and rapid program design unmatched by larger organizations. The organization serves as a trailblazer, identifying market needs to develop and implement groundbreaking initiatives that bolster local markets. Once proven successful, these initiatives can be scaled up and replicated across multiple regions. |
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After initial application and due diligence process, successful applicants develop a strategic plan incorporating a stakeholder analysis, key activities, outputs and outcomes, benchmarking and key performance indicators (KPIs), and contingency planning, among other elements. |
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A notable example of this approach is the Beyond the Grid Fund for Zambia (BGFZ), which has garnered recognition with awards such as the Ashden and UN Global Climate Action Award. BGFZ has successfully provided over one million Zambians with access to affordable and reliable off-grid energy solutions. Building on this success, the programme was expanded into the Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA), with the goal of connecting 8.6 million people across six sub-Saharan African countries by 2028. |
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This strategic plan forms the basis of entry as a project investment. Throughout its work, REEEP uses Results-Based Finance methods to verify project progress. |
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| ⚫ | To date{{when|date=September 2016}} the organisation has been funded primarily by governments including: [[Australia]], [[Austria]], [[Canada]], [[Germany]], [[Ireland]], [[Italy]], [[Spain]], [[Switzerland]], [[The Netherlands]], The [[United Kingdom]], The [[United States]] and the [[European Commission]]. |
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===Learn=== |
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REEEP utilises a mixed methodology approach to monitoring, evaluation and learning designed to handle the complexity of the situations our investments face on the ground and the multiplicity of stakeholders involved, and to manage the various types and volumes of information flowing in and out of the project environment. |
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== Market Supporting Measures == |
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REEEP uses a Theory of Change as a high level project strategy guide, taking into account market context and cross-cutting considerations. For each investment REEEP makes as part of a market acceleration project, it develops a SME-specific strategic plan that incorporates a stakeholder analysis; key activities, outputs and outcomes; benchmarking and key performance indicators (KPIs); and contingency planning, among other elements. This strategy typically includes a Logical Framework Approach (Logframe) template. |
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In the 20 years since its launch, REEEP has accumulated significant experience and comprehension of market development, shaping a distinctive approach to achieving catalytic impact. |
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REEEP designs and executes holistic market interventions aimed at addressing barriers, tailoring programs to match prevailing market conditions and maturity stages, utilizing established tools or innovating where necessary. |
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The plan is designed to ensure that the investment logic will lead to project objectives. We internally test the business plan, including activities, structure and strategy for growth, to confirm they have been adequately planned to deliver a high probability of success. In cases where intelligence and evidence from similar projects would suggest altering the business plan, we will consult with the submitter on making appropriate changes. |
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Collaborating with small and medium enterprises (SMEs), REEEP facilitates the widespread adoption of clean energy solutions, leveraging proven technologies demonstrated through pilot demonstrations or successful deployments in various countries. The organization supports SMEs in refining and validating business models, orchestrating effective use of public (donor) finance to aid sector expansion, and ensuring the availability of private financing to sustain market growth as public support diminishes. Additionally, REEEP lays the groundwork for larger-scale multi-country programs based on successful market engagements. |
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REEEP also works with entrepreneurs to perform Outcome Mapping, a critical element of any project that relies on specific actions or behavioural changes from a broad group of stakeholders amid imperfect market settings. The Outcome Mapping begins with an analysis of stakeholders — individuals, organisations, government bodies, etc. — who influence the ability of a project to reach an objective. In doing so, REEEP tests entrepreneurs’ understanding of the stakeholder landscape: Are they aware of existing and potential competitors? Do they understand customer needs and unique characteristics? Are they relying upon a policy change in the future for their business model to be viable, and if so what are they doing to bring the change about? We track identified behavioural changes (or non-changes) that occur throughout the project. By understanding people, relationships and behaviours we can allow for real-time reflection and rapid reaction. |
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While predominantly focusing on supply-side measures, REEEP maintains a strong emphasis on addressing demand-side energy needs and ensuring market sustainability. Through comprehensive market scoping, REEEP identifies market and community needs and explores opportunities to address suppressed demand through support and de-risking measures for SMEs, alongside improving market conditions. When selecting companies for support, REEEP ensures they possess a coherent understanding of the market and demand, appropriate business models and solutions, implementation capacity, and plans for marketing and awareness-raising, while emphasizing high-quality standards and advancing gender equality across operations and market impact. |
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Finally, REEEP captures significant changes and impacts through a method of storytelling with an open format dialogue. These changes — known as Most Significant Changes — can be planned or unplanned, positive or negative, and the precise nature of these changes may be equally unknown beforehand. By recording and processing these elements we can adjust business plans, project scope or overall strategy if necessary. Combining these components leads to a holistic framework greater than the sum of its parts, which captures a broad range of key information and variety that make up the complex systems in which we are operating. |
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Securing suitable finances stands out as a key challenge for clean energy SMEs, particularly in frontier markets where many fail in the "valley of death" between seed funding and scaling. Hence, REEEP plays a crucial role in designing public and private financial instruments and collaborates with governments and key stakeholders on relevant policy and regulation. Additionally, REEEP collects and disseminates market intelligence to better inform decision-making by public and private stakeholders, emphasizing the regulatory role's importance in ensuring consumer protection, pollution control, and strategic planning of national energy systems as markets grow. |
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===Share=== |
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Market intelligence produced by the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning process is directed into three information flows: the first is a dynamic feedback loop into the Theory of Change and project strategy review; the other two are outward flows of business intelligence and policy intelligence, respectively. |
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This approach has been refined through collaborations with a wide partnership network comprising governments, international organizations, the private sector, civil society, research institutes, think tanks, and academia. REEEP's extensive network enables it to develop intentional relationships with key market stakeholders, addressing gaps to facilitate market growth. |
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Commercial intelligence comprises the full range of business and investment-related data and insights, which are further processed to derive actionable commercial best practices. These are anonymised and synthesised to advise other SME investments in the REEEP portfolio on best practices. At the same time, REEEP generates actionable investment intelligence, which can influence or even lead to concrete investment pipelines for larger investors (multilateral development banks, impact investors, venture (growth) capital funds, mezzanine funds etc.). This intelligence is a critical de-risking mechanism for specific downstream investors, as well as the investment climate in general. |
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This holistic perspective, devoid of vested interests and considering the needs of all stakeholders, aligns with REEEP's status as a not-for-profit Quasi-International Organization (QuIO). Coupled with its agility, impossible for larger organizations to match, this sets REEEP apart within its field. |
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Policy intelligence, comprising data and information on the ecosystem conditions of specific markets (including legal, regulatory, economic and political circumstances that act as external influencers on business and market activity), are further processed to derive actionable practice-based policy learning and recommendations. These can be utilised by partner organisations and decision makers involved in legislation and/or other policy and regulatory development processes. The form of REEEP's practiced-based policy will vary depending upon case to fit the needs of the policy making process in question. |
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Although there is a logical sequence to the ''Invest-Learn-Share'' approach, this does not imply rigidity in timing; rather, it is an iterative process, in which stakeholders, such as regulators, policy makers and financial actors, are included early and at regular intervals in the project throughout its lifetime. |
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'''REEEP employs 6 key levers to advance market development''' |
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| ⚫ | To date{{when|date=September 2016}} the organisation has been funded primarily by governments including: [[Australia]], [[Austria]], [[Canada]], [[Germany]], [[Ireland]], [[Italy]], [[Spain]], [[Switzerland]], [[The Netherlands]], The [[United Kingdom]], The [[United States]] and the [[European Commission]]. |
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* Design public (donor)-funded financial instruments leveraging private finance |
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==Project interventions== |
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* Structure private financial instruments to ensure availability of adapted and affordable private finance |
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* Support SMEs to refine their business models and accelerate deployment at scale |
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* Support SMEs in accessing private finance both locally and on international markets |
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* Work with governments and key stakeholders to create an enabling environment |
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* Collect and disseminate market intelligence to help private stakeholders make better informed decisions |
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==Projects and Programmes== |
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In the first phase of its existence (2002-2014) REEEP acted largely as a ''re-granting'' institution, funding nearly 200 projects. The majority have targeted [[emerging markets]] such as [[India]], [[China]], [[South Africa]] and [[Brazil]]. |
In the first phase of its existence (2002-2014) REEEP acted largely as a ''re-granting'' institution, funding nearly 200 projects. The majority have targeted [[emerging markets]] such as [[India]], [[China]], [[South Africa]] and [[Brazil]]. |
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Since 2014, REEEP dramatically focused its work toward the targeted "de-risking" of specific markets and sectors, such as solar-powered irrigation systems in East Africa, solar-powered dairy cooling in Bangladesh, or innovative decentralized mini-grid models in Tanzania. |
Since 2014, REEEP dramatically focused its work toward the targeted "de-risking" of specific markets and sectors, such as solar-powered irrigation systems in East Africa, solar-powered dairy cooling in Bangladesh, or innovative decentralized mini-grid models in Tanzania. |
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REEEP applies its market development approach flexibly, demonstrating the ability to adapt rapidly to varying country contexts. Its global mandate prioritizes regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. In 2024, REEEP is engaged in activities across Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Nepal, Liberia, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. |
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Regionally, REEEP has shifted concentration to low- and middle-income countries, although it continues to work in India and South Africa, which are generally considered to be emerging markets: |
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* East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda |
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* Southern Africa: South Africa, Zambia, Botswana |
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* Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Myanmar |
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* South Asia: India, Bangladesh, Nepal |
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Additionally, through the Private Financing Advisory Network, REEEP extends its presence to low- and middle-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Central America, and the Caribbean Islands. |
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REEEP's ongoing projects include: |
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* Power Africa: Beyond the Grid Fund for Zambia - a major fund to stimulate markets for off-grid electrification solutions in Zambia |
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* Powering Agrifood Value Chains - a project to develop evidence-based intervention guidance for energy utilisation in the food-producing agricultural sector. |
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* Climate Change, Clean Energy and Urban Water Works in Southern Africa - a joint REEEP-UNIDO project to accelerate market-based solutions for energy-related investment to improve municipal water works in Southern Africa. |
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* SWITCH Africa Green - a project to support African countries in their transition to an Inclusive Green Economy and promoting sustainable consumption and production (SCP) practices and patterns. |
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* Climate Knowledge Brokers Group - a community of practice that furthers improvements and efficiency gains in the global climate knowledge system. |
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Operating within these regions, REEEP directs its efforts where there is specific interest, committed partners, and tangible opportunities. The organization's focus extends to low- and middle-income countries, as per the World Bank classification, with a per capita GDP of up to USD 4,000. Exceptions may arise in cases where a country serves as a regional trailblazer, warranting special consideration. |
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==Internet-based resources== |
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===Climate Tagger=== |
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<!-- 29 September 2016: material removed because of copyright violation, small one sentence stub added in the hope that further work will be added --> |
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Climate Tagger is a project to help organizations catalog their data and information in a consistent manner. |
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===reegle.info=== |
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| ⚫ | [[reegle]] (in lower-case) was a clean energy information portal designed to provide easy access to highly reliable information on [[renewable energy]] and [[Efficient energy use|energy efficiency]]. The website draws information from eight different open data sources such as the World Bank, UNdata, OpenEI, the CIA Factbook, and the REEEP Sustainable Energy Regulation Network publications to provide understanding of energy issues. |
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| ⚫ | reegle was developed by REEEP in collaboration with [[REN21]], and was funded by the governments of Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom. As of March 2012, the website attracted an average of 220,000 users per month. During 2011, 59% of its users came from Africa and Asia, underlining the site's character as an information resource for developing countries and emerging markets. reegle was an advocate of the Linked Open Data movement, which seeks to make public data available on the web in open formats that are machine-readable. |
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As a co-host and implementation partner, REEEP is instrumental in managing two significant programs: The [https://beyondthegrid.africa/ Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA),] which incentivizes off-grid energy service providers to expedite access to affordable clean energy, and the [https://pfan.net/ Private Financing Advisory Network (PFAN)], which offers project preparation assistance and investment facilitation for clean energy and climate adaptation enterprises. Additionally, the organization provides first-loss loan reserves and facilitates the development of green lending capabilities within local financial institutions to enable the provision of affordable financing for energy access, small-scale renewables and energy efficiency initiatives. Notable initiatives include the Austria Nepal Blended Finance Facility and the Southern African Renewable Energy Investment and Growth Programme (SOARING), which channel climate finance towards clean energy businesses, particularly those utilizing solar technologies in Tanzania and Zambia. |
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==Partners== |
==Partners== |
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Currently REEEP has 385 partners, 45 of which are governments, including all the [[G7]] countries and key government agencies from India and China, other emerging markets and the developing world. Partners also include a range of businesses, [[NGO]]s and civil society organisations. |
Currently REEEP has 385 partners, 45 of which are governments, including all the [[G7]] countries and key government agencies from India and China, other emerging markets and the developing world. Partners also include a range of businesses, [[NGO]]s and civil society organisations. |
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Revision as of 10:36, 11 March 2024
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The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) is a Vienna-based international organisation that advances markets for renewable energy and energy efficiency with a particular emphasis on the emerging markets and developing countries. Its primary focus is in de-risking and scaling up clean energy business models.
REEEP was originally launched by the government of the United Kingdom, along with other partners, at the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in August 2002.
REEEP stands as a unique partnership dedicated to accelerating the transition towards sustainable energy solutions. It aims to mobilise financing to build dynamic, sustainable markets and ultimately make clean energy technology accessible and affordable for peri-urban and rural populations. Through a combination of financial instruments, capacity building, facilitation of stakeholder cooperation and technical assistance, REEEP’s programmes fill financing and knowledge gaps and drive private sector investment, enabling frontier markets to thrive. REEEP works closely with stakeholders across the public and private sectors to ensure holistic programme design and implementation are rooted in local needs, decreasing risk in clean energy investment to create long-lasting ecosystem change.
Origins
In 2002, accelerating the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies was one of the priorities of a large group of countries at the WSSD. Margaret Beckett, then UK Minister for the Environment announced the initiative to form REEEP at the summit's closing session. It grew from an agreement with other committed governments, businesses and NGOs to deliver WSSD commitments others, in particular to take forward the key recommendations of the G8 Renewable Energy Task Force.
From January 2003 until May 2004, the REEEP was housed within the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) where it continued following the UN Type II Partnership[1] process of stakeholder consultation. In June 2004, REEEP obtained formal, legal non-profit status as an international NGO and has since been located at the UN complex in Vienna, Austria. In 2016, REEEP was granted status as a quasi-international organisation in Austria, along with four other organisations.
reegle.info
reegle (in lower-case) was a clean energy information portal designed to provide easy access to highly reliable information on renewable energy and energy efficiency. The website draws information from eight different open data sources such as the World Bank, UNdata, OpenEI, the CIA Factbook, and the REEEP Sustainable Energy Regulation Network publications to provide understanding of energy issues.
reegle was developed by REEEP in collaboration with REN21, and was funded by the governments of Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom. As of March 2012, the website attracted an average of 220,000 users per month. During 2011, 59% of its users came from Africa and Asia, underlining the site's character as an information resource for developing countries and emerging markets. reegle was an advocate of the Linked Open Data movement, which seeks to make public data available on the web in open formats that are machine-readable.
REEEP's approach
The organization advocates for global initiatives outlined in the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly emphasizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at ensuring universal access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy while combating climate change and enhancing resilience. Its endeavours extend to addressing food security, environmental preservation, poverty eradication, gender equality and fostering economic growth, particularly in underserved regions.
REEEP's primary focus is on advancing clean energy solutions for off-grid and distributed small-scale power systems, as well as promoting the productive utilization of clean energy within agricultural and food value chains. Operating on a global scale, its current emphasis is on low- and lower-middle-income nations across sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia.
REEEP's strength lies in its extensive global network of experts and collaborators. Through its diverse programs, the organization fosters collaboration among governments, international entities, the private sector, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), civil society, and local stakeholders. These partnerships are designed to endure beyond REEEP's direct involvement, ensuring sustainable and impactful outcomes on the ground.
REEEP's distinctive methodology relies on extensive on-the-ground experience and the nimbleness and expertise of its small team, allowing for innovation, adaptation, and rapid program design unmatched by larger organizations. The organization serves as a trailblazer, identifying market needs to develop and implement groundbreaking initiatives that bolster local markets. Once proven successful, these initiatives can be scaled up and replicated across multiple regions.
A notable example of this approach is the Beyond the Grid Fund for Zambia (BGFZ), which has garnered recognition with awards such as the Ashden and UN Global Climate Action Award. BGFZ has successfully provided over one million Zambians with access to affordable and reliable off-grid energy solutions. Building on this success, the programme was expanded into the Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA), with the goal of connecting 8.6 million people across six sub-Saharan African countries by 2028.
To date[when?] the organisation has been funded primarily by governments including: Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, The Netherlands, The United Kingdom, The United States and the European Commission.
Market Supporting Measures
In the 20 years since its launch, REEEP has accumulated significant experience and comprehension of market development, shaping a distinctive approach to achieving catalytic impact.
REEEP designs and executes holistic market interventions aimed at addressing barriers, tailoring programs to match prevailing market conditions and maturity stages, utilizing established tools or innovating where necessary.
Collaborating with small and medium enterprises (SMEs), REEEP facilitates the widespread adoption of clean energy solutions, leveraging proven technologies demonstrated through pilot demonstrations or successful deployments in various countries. The organization supports SMEs in refining and validating business models, orchestrating effective use of public (donor) finance to aid sector expansion, and ensuring the availability of private financing to sustain market growth as public support diminishes. Additionally, REEEP lays the groundwork for larger-scale multi-country programs based on successful market engagements.
While predominantly focusing on supply-side measures, REEEP maintains a strong emphasis on addressing demand-side energy needs and ensuring market sustainability. Through comprehensive market scoping, REEEP identifies market and community needs and explores opportunities to address suppressed demand through support and de-risking measures for SMEs, alongside improving market conditions. When selecting companies for support, REEEP ensures they possess a coherent understanding of the market and demand, appropriate business models and solutions, implementation capacity, and plans for marketing and awareness-raising, while emphasizing high-quality standards and advancing gender equality across operations and market impact.
Securing suitable finances stands out as a key challenge for clean energy SMEs, particularly in frontier markets where many fail in the "valley of death" between seed funding and scaling. Hence, REEEP plays a crucial role in designing public and private financial instruments and collaborates with governments and key stakeholders on relevant policy and regulation. Additionally, REEEP collects and disseminates market intelligence to better inform decision-making by public and private stakeholders, emphasizing the regulatory role's importance in ensuring consumer protection, pollution control, and strategic planning of national energy systems as markets grow.
This approach has been refined through collaborations with a wide partnership network comprising governments, international organizations, the private sector, civil society, research institutes, think tanks, and academia. REEEP's extensive network enables it to develop intentional relationships with key market stakeholders, addressing gaps to facilitate market growth.
This holistic perspective, devoid of vested interests and considering the needs of all stakeholders, aligns with REEEP's status as a not-for-profit Quasi-International Organization (QuIO). Coupled with its agility, impossible for larger organizations to match, this sets REEEP apart within its field.
REEEP employs 6 key levers to advance market development
- Design public (donor)-funded financial instruments leveraging private finance
- Structure private financial instruments to ensure availability of adapted and affordable private finance
- Support SMEs to refine their business models and accelerate deployment at scale
- Support SMEs in accessing private finance both locally and on international markets
- Work with governments and key stakeholders to create an enabling environment
- Collect and disseminate market intelligence to help private stakeholders make better informed decisions
Projects and Programmes
In the first phase of its existence (2002-2014) REEEP acted largely as a re-granting institution, funding nearly 200 projects. The majority have targeted emerging markets such as India, China, South Africa and Brazil.
These REEEP projects attempted to address two key barriers to clean energy development, and gather and aggregate information on them:
- Policy and regulation: promoting clear government policies and favourable, transparent and stable regulatory frameworks that will encourage long-term investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency
- Innovative finance and business models: supporting new forms of financing, risk mitigation and business models to make small-sized renewable and energy efficient projects bankable.
Since 2014, REEEP dramatically focused its work toward the targeted "de-risking" of specific markets and sectors, such as solar-powered irrigation systems in East Africa, solar-powered dairy cooling in Bangladesh, or innovative decentralized mini-grid models in Tanzania.
REEEP applies its market development approach flexibly, demonstrating the ability to adapt rapidly to varying country contexts. Its global mandate prioritizes regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. In 2024, REEEP is engaged in activities across Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Nepal, Liberia, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
Additionally, through the Private Financing Advisory Network, REEEP extends its presence to low- and middle-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Central America, and the Caribbean Islands.
Operating within these regions, REEEP directs its efforts where there is specific interest, committed partners, and tangible opportunities. The organization's focus extends to low- and middle-income countries, as per the World Bank classification, with a per capita GDP of up to USD 4,000. Exceptions may arise in cases where a country serves as a regional trailblazer, warranting special consideration.
As a co-host and implementation partner, REEEP is instrumental in managing two significant programs: The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA), which incentivizes off-grid energy service providers to expedite access to affordable clean energy, and the Private Financing Advisory Network (PFAN), which offers project preparation assistance and investment facilitation for clean energy and climate adaptation enterprises. Additionally, the organization provides first-loss loan reserves and facilitates the development of green lending capabilities within local financial institutions to enable the provision of affordable financing for energy access, small-scale renewables and energy efficiency initiatives. Notable initiatives include the Austria Nepal Blended Finance Facility and the Southern African Renewable Energy Investment and Growth Programme (SOARING), which channel climate finance towards clean energy businesses, particularly those utilizing solar technologies in Tanzania and Zambia.
Partners
Currently REEEP has 385 partners, 45 of which are governments, including all the G7 countries and key government agencies from India and China, other emerging markets and the developing world. Partners also include a range of businesses, NGOs and civil society organisations.
REEEP operates within a diverse constellation of players, and collaborates with other international structures and organisations to maximise replication and minimise duplication of efforts. Among other organisations, REEEP is actively engaged with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the International Energy Agency (IEA), MEDREP, the Global Village Energy Partnership [2] (GVEP), CLASP, the Johannesburg Renewable Energy Coalition (JREC), GNESD, EREC, NAIMA, EURIMA, e-parliament and GFSE.
See also
- Johannesburg Renewable Energy Coalition (JREC)
- Renewable energy commercialization
- Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21)
- World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBSCD)
- World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)
References
- ^ "United Nations Division for Sustainable Development - Partnerships for Sustainable Development". www.un.org. Archived from the original on 2019-11-01. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
- ^ "Energy 4 Impact". Energy For Impact. Archived from the original on 2019-08-29. Retrieved 2019-09-03.