ALER partners with the Africa–EU Renewable Energy Cooperation Programme

On 19 September 2016, ALER and RECP - Africa-EU Renewable Energy Cooperation Programme have signed a cooperation agreement to support the promotion of renewable energy markets in Portuguese-speaking countries.

Under the agreement, the parties will cooperate to contribute to broad and sustained market development for Renewable Energy (RE) in Africa. The specific objective is the mobilisation of European and African RE companies for joint business development in Portuguese-speaking African RE markets.

ALER’s Executive Director, Isabel Cancela de Abreu said “We are very happy to start cooperating with RECP. This agreement gives us the opportunity and resources to organize even more activities to achieve our objectives of further developing these renewable energy markets and putting stakeholders in touch. It will contribute to place lusophone countries in the renewables map, calling for international attention and pointing out existing opportunities.”

“RECP is proud to welcome ALER into its network of partner associations and business networks. Under the agreement, both partners will promote renewable energy markets in Portuguese-speaking African countries. In addition, the partnership aims to facilitate additional investments through the provision of a platform for project developers, financiers and service providers from both continents to meet and interact.” Michael Franz, Program Coordinator of RECP added.

The agreement foresees different activities in order to bring together African and European stakeholders active in the RE market by providing a platform to create joint business and project development in African Portuguese-speaking countries. It includes the translation of relevant documents into Portuguese, the active collection and dissemination of information regarding African Portuguese-speaking RE markets and international support services and instruments, and the organization of information and matchmaking events.

The initial project duration is 16 months, running until December 2017.

RECP is a multi-donor instrument of the Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP). The objective of the programme is to support market development for meso-scale renewable energy technologies in Africa in order to harness the untapped potential and meet current and future energy needs. The RECP supports African and European companies to join forces and invest, while engaging with finance institutions and governments, with the objective of increasing private investment in renewable energy in Africa. Building upon many years of international experience and involvement of African partners, the RECP has extensive knowledge of African markets and funding instruments. The RECP is financed by the European Union.

More info: http://www.africa-eu-renewables.org/