September 2014: During the month of September, the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and other donors undertook activities and approved funding for sustainable energy projects in various countries, including Albania, Burkina Faso, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Peru and Republic of Congo.

In Albania, the World Bank approved US$150 million in International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) financing to the Power Recover Project to strengthen the management and financial viability of the electricity sector and improve the reliability of the grid. The project has four parts: providing short-term complementary power import support; upgrading distribution infrastructure; upgrading the transmission meter/data center; and supporting power sector reforms and project implementation. [World Bank Press Release]

In Burkina Faso, EIB has agreed to provide a 20-year, EUR 23 million (15 billion CFA) loan for a photovoltaic (PV) plant to be built near, Ouagadougou, the capital of the country. The EUR 70.5 million (46 billion CFA) project, one of the largest solar PV plants planned in Sub-Saharan Africa, will be operated by national electricity utility, SONABEL, with additional financing from the French Development Agency and the EU. [EIB Press Release]

In the Republic of Congo, the World Bank approved US$60 million in finance to increase access to electricity and improve the reliability and efficiency of the distribution system. A US$45 million loan from the IBRD and US$15 million in credit from the International Development Association (IDA) will be used to strengthen the National Electricity Utility’s (SNE) managerial, technical and commercial performance, in support of the ongoing ongoing Water, Electricity and Urban Development Project (PEEDU). [World Bank Press Release]

In Jordan, EBRD has approved two loans to support solar energy and energy efficiency. EBRD will provide a US$20 million loan for the construction and development of the country’s first solar PV plant. A subsidiary of SunEdison, Inc. will develop, build and operate the 20 MW facility, with US$25 million in co-financing from the US Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). The Bank also approved a US$30 million loan to the Jordan Energy District that will improve energy efficiency by financing the construction of the first district cooling and heating plant in the country. [EBRD Press Release on Solar Plant] [EBRD Press Release on Energy Efficiency]

The EBRD Board of Directors also approved the first country strategy for Jordan, which focuses on three priority areas identified in concert with the Government of Jordan, namely energy, the private sector and infrastructure. [EBRD Press Release on Country Strategy]

In Kazakhstan, EBRD provided a €160,000 grant to support a project demonstrating the benefits of improving energy efficiency in public buildings. The pilot project, which cut heating and electricity expenses at a public school in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, is a joint initiative between Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and EBRD. [EBRD Press Release]

In Peru, IDB approved US$67.3 million in long-term financing to support two of the first commercial scale wind power plants in the country. This total was broken down as follows: US$23.2 million to the Marcona wind farm, which was completed in March 2014; and US$44.1 million for the Tres Hermanas project, scheduled for completion in September 2015, will produce enough electricity for 500,000 Peruvian consumers. IDB is considering including training and recruitment initiatives for women in the projects, which is also expected to receive subordinated debt funding Canadian Climate Fund for the Private Sector (C2F). [IDB Press Release]

AfDB released its Green Growth Framework, which outlines the concept of green growth in Africa and presents approaches, strategic entry points, methodologies and tools, financing instruments and indicators for tracking progress on mainstreaming green growth into development policies and activities. Prepared as part of the Bank’s Strategy for 2013-2012, the Framework is intended to guide staff on facilitating the transition to green growth in Africa by building on pilot projects, intensive consultations and other Bank initiatives in the region. [AfDB Press Release]

The Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) and various other partners held the West Africa Clean Energy Finance Forum (WAFCEF-2) Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, to reach out to West African companies and solicit submissions on clean energy projects to the Business Plan Competition. Companies selected in the competition will receive mentoring to support the development of convincing investment pitches and sound business strategies. [AfDB Press Release]

EBRD, the Ministry of Mining and Energy of the Republic of Serbia, and the Serbian Chamber of Commerce hosted a workshop on introducing innovative approaches to deliver municipal services. The workshop, titled, ‘The ESCO Opportunity: Improving Energy Efficiency in Public Facilities,’ included discussions with government representatives, energy efficiency experts, and local and international investors on engaging private finance through various mechanisms, such as energy performance contracting (EnPC), improved tendering processes and increased participation of private energy service companies (ESCOs). [EBRD Press Release]

Spain, IDB and the EU signed a joint declaration reaffirming their cooperation on renewable energy and energy efficiency in the Caribbean. The partnership aims to accelerate investment in sustainable energy; identify, replicate and scale-up best practices; and coordinate policies and activities among Caribbean States. [IDB Press Release]

The Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) initiative has published an interview with Kandeh Yumkella, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for SE4ALL and Chairman of UN-Energy. In the interview, Yumkella discusses plans to work with commercial and development banks to raise US$120 billion in climate and clean energy finance. [SE4ALL Press Release]

ADB has published a report on the water-energy nexus in Mongolia. The report, titled ‘Demand in the Desert: Mongolia’s Water-Energy-Mining Nexus,’ examines the water-energy nexus in two of Mongolia’s river basins and presents national-level recommendations for sustainability decisions that take into account energy facilities, mining operations, agriculture, and urban water users. [ADB Press Release]

The World Bank has issued a press release on its increased lending for renewable energy in low-income countries. According to the Bank, in fiscal year 2014 US$3.6 billion in lending has gone towards renewable energy and US$9.445 billion, or two-thirds of all energy financing, has been directed towards Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, the two regions with the highest energy deficit. [World Bank Press Release]