Title: Promoting Rural Electrification - Supporting the feasibility of mini-grids in Myanmar

Description: Myanmar National Electrification Programme (NEP) under DRD supported development of private-sector-led mini-grids using World Bank finance. GIZ provided technical assistance to review feasibility of proposals submitted under call for proposal stages (CfP1-2) and advised on adjustments to ensure visibility and sustainability. Review covered all aspects from demand assessments, WTP, technical design and simulation, and financial modelling, for mini-grids which are primarily solar PV/diesel/battery configurations.

Client: GIZ, NEP Myanmar

Type of Project: Implementation and Technical

Title: Grid-connected Solar PV System for Thinadhoo Island diesel grid operated by Upper South Utilities Limited, Maldives

Description: EDG was contracted to provide technical support to the Ministry of Environment and Energy Maldives – CECM. The development objective for the CECM project is to reduce the dependence on imported fossil fuels for power generation through the use of renewable energy resources and adoption of energy efficiency measures in an island community in the Maldives. Displacement of diesel fuel in island diesel mini-grids, using high penetrations of solar PV, provides considerable opportunity for fuel savings to the utility operator. A proven replicable installation with monitoring system and control system provides accurate insights on diesel cost savings, and challenges with high penetration PV on isolated large scale PV/diesel mini-grids,. This pilot intends to provide a gateway for scale-up using SREP funding, on the many hundreds of island mini-grid systems running on diesel in Maldives. The project entailed design, specification, procurement, supervision and stability assessment of 550kWp grid-connected PV system in PV/diesel mini-grid configuration for CECM project, on Thinadhoo Island.

Client: Ministry of Environment and Energy Maldives

Type of Project: Implementation and Technical

Title: Monitoring the Performance of the Solar Home Service Provider in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa / financed by KfW

Description The solar concession utility has a target deliverable of 30,000 new household customers in 4 years, using subsidised solar home systems of 65-95Wp on a fee-for-service basis. The purpose of the Monitoring Consultant is to monitor the performance of the solar off-grid concession utility in the rural Eastern Cape province, South Africa. Monitoring is done by field workers through frequent technical surveys of new installations and “older” customers, as well as ongoing customer and potential customer social sampling – important to determine whether needs are being met, whether standards are being met, and to assess willingness and ability to pay on an ongoing basis. Other monitoring activities include laboratory testing of equipment, data-logging of sample systems, monitoring of grid extensions, focus groups and quarterly stakeholder meetings. The main role of the monitoring consultant is to check and approve the quality of installations, maintenance, and adherence to customer service standards, and to verify and approve quarterly invoices submitted by the off-grid service provider to the client. The MC has also provided high level inputs to programme design as part of the mid-term review of the project

Client: Department of Energy https://www.energy.gov.za/

Type of Project: Implementation and Technical

Title: Technical assistance (TA) for the European Commission (EC) 1000 solar schools programme

Description: The European Commission provided funding of R100m for ESKOM to implement 1000 1kWp solar systems for rural schools. The Technical Assistance unit, comprised of IT Power and local partner EDG, provided financial and technical reporting and auditing to the EC, as well as providing technical experts to ESKOM to ensure that the project optimally meets the planning, developmental, educational, capacity building, technical, financial and economic, and developmental criteria in the project proposal. The project was be compared with international institutional solar electrification projects.

Client: European Commission, IT Power, Department of Energy, ESKOM

Type of Project: Implementation and Technical

Title: Development of Zimbabwe Rural Energy Masterplan

Description: The comprehensive Masterplan comprised of dual on-grid and off-grid components, and tasks includes development of GIS, market studies, grid/off-grid least cost planning, financial and economic analysis. The main RETs covered at least small scale hydro, biomass co-generation, grid-tie PV, as well as isolated mini-grids, and stand-alone solar technologies and biogas.

Client: NorConsult Team, for Rural Electrification Agency Zimbabwe

Type of Project: Policy and Planning

Title: Solar Pumping for Communities - Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF)

Description: The project aimed to promote the appropriate use of solar pumping for community water supply in South Africa. It was aimed at community representatives, NGOs, planners and technical consultants, and intended to provide information which will help to build their capacity in the appropriate choice of pumping technology, as well as in suitable design, installation, operation and maintenance practices for community solar pumping systems. The project involved three phases: (1) research and interaction with local industry and other players; (2) development and production of various information outputs; (3) pilot programme to test information outputs and familiarise DWAF and implementing agents with solar pumping.

Client: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF)

Type of Project: Implementation and Technical