13 March 2015: During a workshop focused on developing renewable energy in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region, representatives from the private sector and rural electrification agencies learned how to plan, install and maintain renewable energy based mini-grids. Participants at the ‘Hands-on Training on Renewable Energy (Hybrid) Mini-Grid Systems for Rural Electrification in West Africa’ examined a range of technologies and financial schemes that could be used to scale up renewable energy mini-grids in ECOWAS member States.

The four-day workshop, organized by the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) and the Government of Guinea-Bissau, was undertaken in support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Project ‘Promoting investments in small- and medium-sized renewable energy technologies in the electricity sector of Guinea Bissau.’ Among its objectives was strengthening the capacities of key stakeholders in Guinea-Bissau to promote, implement, manage, operate and maintain clean energy and hybrid mini-grids.

The effort also contributed to ECREEE’s goal of supplying 25% of the rural population with mini-grid and stand-alone systems as part of its ‘Rural Electrification Program (ERuReP) 2015-2020.’ During the opening ceremony, ECREEE and UNIDO presented a proposal for scaling up investments in renewable energy mini-grid industries in the 15 ECOWAS member States, with the support of co-funding from the GEF.

In addition, the event promoted cross-country networking on clean energy and hybrid mini-grids, analyzed the appropriate policy and regulatory mechanisms within country contexts, and allowed participants to observe an operational mini-grid firsthand through a visit to the Bambadinca system. The workshop took place 9-12 March 2015 in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau. [UNIDO Press Release] [ECREEE Press Release] [Workshop Concept Note]