GEF National Dialogue Initiative 20 – 21 November 2008, Monrovia, Liberia

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Alternative Energy Provision in Liberia

Augustus V. GoanueCenter for Sustainable Energy Technology

8th Street Sinkor, Tubman Blvd.Monrovia, Liberia

Phone: +231-655-9266Email: gusgoanue@yahoo.com

Presentation Outline

Background Key Players and their Roles Results and Achievements Major Constraints Lessons Learnt Conclusions Recommendations

GEF National Dialogue Initiative 20 – 21 November 2008, Monrovia, Liberia

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Background

Alternative energy generally refers to energy obtained from renewable sources such as:

Biomass – wood or organic wastesSolar – sunshineHydro – running waterWind, etc.

Liberia is endowed with enormous alternative energy resources, especially biomass, hydro and solar. These resources are yet to be fully harnessed and commercialized.

GEF National Dialogue Initiative 20 – 21 November 2008, Monrovia, Liberia

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Key Players and their Roles

The Government – Policy and regulatory framework to provide enabling environment for inducing investments in the alternative energy sub-sector.

Bi- and multi-lateral donors/development organizations – funding and technical support to develop local capacity and facilitate the provision of alternative energy services.

The private sector – investment in production and alternative energy service delivery.

Civil Society/NGOs – Advocacy, public awareness, training and related support for increasing access to alternative energy services.

GEF National Dialogue Initiative 20 – 21 November 2008, Monrovia, Liberia

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GOV’TPRIVATESECTOR

DONORS

CIVIL SOCIETY/ NGOs

ENDUSERS

GEF National Dialogue Initiative 20 – 21 November 2008, Monrovia, Liberia

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Alternative energy service delivery linkages between key players

Results and Achievements

Government

A National Energy Policy (NEP) has been finalized and currently awaiting Cabinet approval.

The NEP proposes the establishment of an institutional framework (Rural and Renewable Energy Agency – RREA) to facilitate alternative energy development and service delivery in Liberia.

The RREA will be involved in planning, financing and technical support to project development.

Relevant laws are being drafted with the support of USAID.

GEF National Dialogue Initiative 20 – 21 November 2008, Monrovia, Liberia

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Bi- and multi-lateral donors/development organizations

They have been proactive in the current energy sector reform of Liberia by providing financial and technical support to the provision of alternative energy services.

Key players include:

US Government/USAID World Bank European Union Government of Norway United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

GEF National Dialogue Initiative 20 – 21 November 2008, Monrovia, Liberia

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Current donor interventions – solar photovoltaic only

Current PV Installation in Liberia

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

USAID UNDP UNICEF

Sponsor

To

tal I

nst

alle

d C

apac

ity

(kW

p)

GEF National Dialogue Initiative 20 – 21 November 2008, Monrovia, Liberia

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Challenges Faced

Lack of policy and regulatory framework;

Inadequate human and institutional capacity;

High initial costs and lack of financing mechanism for project developers, entrepreneurs, and consumers;

Low level of awareness and understanding of the applications and benefits of alternative energy amongst policy/decision makers, private sector, and the consuming public;

GEF National Dialogue Initiative 20 – 21 November 2008, Monrovia, Liberia

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Private Sector and Civil Society/NGOs Collaboration

Support to pilot project implementation

Technology deployment and service delivery.

Training and information dissemination

Community awareness and sensitization

Assessments, feasibility and market studies

GEF National Dialogue Initiative 20 – 21 November 2008, Monrovia, Liberia

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Challenges Faced Cont’d

Inadequate information on alternative energy resource potential;

High transaction costs due to lack of local market for equipment and other products; and

No sufficient information on demonstrated models for replication and scale-up locally.

GEF National Dialogue Initiative 20 – 21 November 2008, Monrovia, Liberia

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Lessons Learnt

Public sector resources will remain crucial for investing in alternative energy service delivery due to the private sector’s limited desire to invest in emerging alternative energy markets.

Alternative energy services foster home-grown energy resources and technologies that demonstrate clear cost advantage without relying on oil imports.

GEF National Dialogue Initiative 20 – 21 November 2008, Monrovia, Liberia

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Conclusions One of the four policy objectives of the Government of Liberia within the framework of the National Energy Policy is access. Therefore increased investment in alternative energy services will lead to increased access to modern and clean energy services across the country.

This will have tremendous impact on the delivery of the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) and overall national development agenda.

GEF National Dialogue Initiative 20 – 21 November 2008, Monrovia, Liberia

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Recommendations

The role of alternative energy as well as costs of alternative energy services should be factored into sectoral plans/budgets and the overall national development plan/budget.

Donor programs and development assistance should consider support to the provision of alternative energy services.

Energy policy making and planning must incorporate alternative energy services that are linked to goals and priorities in other sectors; e.g. health, education, agriculture, micro/small enterprises, etc.

GEF National Dialogue Initiative 20 – 21 November 2008, Monrovia, Liberia

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Thanks

For Your

Attention

GEF National Dialogue Initiative 20 – 21 November 2008, Monrovia, Liberia

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