Investment opportunities for renewable energies projects
Since the beginning of the year, many initiatives have been launched aiming to facilitate the access to investment for renewable energies at an international level, including Portuguese-speaking countries. Here we present you an overview of the most significant initiatives.
ALER will soon provide a Monitoring Service of Investment Opportunities exclusive for Members or partners by which ALER will send all specific information regarding financed renewable energy projects within the Portuguese-speaking countries. This information will be structured thus saving you the research task.
Further, ALER will establish partnerships to support our Members in the presentation of applications. We will also develop our networking and public relations towards investment institutions with the aim of disclosing lusophone projects and to have early access to future investment opportunities so that members have more time to prepare their applications and be successful.
Overview of the latest investment opportunities:
Energy Access Ventures Fund
In the beginning of March, Schneider Electric in partnership with, CDC Group – the UK Department for International Development (DFID), European Investment Bank, FISEA – PROPARCO, OFID, and AFD- FFEM, announced the launch of the Energy Access Fund to improve access to sustainable energy in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Professional Private Equity Fund will be managed by Aster Capital and advised by Energy Access Venture (EAV). This company based in Africa has secured commitments of EUR 54.5 million to invest in 5-year instruments for around 20 African SME. In addition to funding, a range of technical support will be provided. Please click here to see the press release and the fund description made by EIB.
IRENA Project Navigator e Financial Navigator
IRENA - International Renewable Energy Agency has launched an online platform with the objective of overcoming investment challenges regarding renewable energies projects and improve success rates regarding investment. It expects to enhance the quality of RE project proposals implementation and an efficient use of funds. This initiative covers all RE technologies, different finance types such as grants, loans, equity, all project categories and all geographic regions. Please click here to see the online navigator at https://navigator.irena.org.
ElectriFI
EuropeAID is already preparing a new generation of funding to rural electrification. The new investment scheme called ElectriFI was presented last September at a workshop in Brussels in which ALER participated. However, the guidelines for proposals are still in progress and the first stage of applications should only be launched in the second semester of 2015. Please click here to learn about ElectrFI.
Partnership for Development
The Portuguese Government together with AICEP have built a website in which companies, NGOs, universities, foundations or investigation centres may consult a list of public tenders, divided into countries and business activity, within the framework of funding projects for the development of European and multisided cooperation funds, of which Portugal is a member.
Green Climate Fund
The Green Climate Fund was created by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) with the purpose of making a significant and ambitious contribution to the global efforts towards attaining the goals set out by the international community to combat climate change, by providing support to developing countries to limit or reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to the impacts of climate change. The funds will be open to tender through multisided or national membership partners. The fund will support “climate” politics, programmes, projects, activities and other initiatives. Please click here for more information http://www.gcfund.org/
Scaling Solar
At the end of January, the World Bank Group announced the launch of Scaling Solar aiming to create a viable market for private solar power projects in Africa that will help governments to increase the supply of energy for millions of residential and commercial consumers across the continent. The bank belies that large-scale photovoltaic solar power can be quickly and economically developed to increase the supply of electricity to national grids and improve the reliability of power services for African households and businesses. Please click here for more information.
Powering the Future We Want – Recognizing Leadership and Innovative Practices in Energy for Sustainable Development
To promote innovative solutions and recognise leadership and commitment in meeting the energy challenge, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA) has launched a project aiming at advancing the implementation of sustainable development by identifying innovative practices in energy for sustainable development, sponsored by China Energy Fund Committee (CEFC). The project, titled Powering the Future We Want - Recognizing Innovative Practices in Energy for Sustainable Development, offers a grant in the amount of one million US dollars with the objective of promoting leadership and innovative practices in meeting the global energy challenge. Please click here for more information https://poweringthefuture.un.org/.
Zayed Future Energy Prize
On the 20th January the call for applications to Zayed Future Energy Prize were launched. This annual award celebrates achievements that reflect impact, innovation, long-term vision and leadership in renewable energy and sustainability. The overall amount of this prize is 4 million dollars for all categories. The submission deadlines is 22th June 2015 and it is open to companies, individuals and schools. Please click here for more informationhttp://zayedfutureenergyprize.com/.