News on international renewable energy incentive programmes

Scaling Solar – 2nd tender round in Zambia has started

After the successful tender for 100 MWp carried out in Zambia last year, Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) of Zambia concluded another agreement under the Scaling Solar program this year. In a second tender round, a further 200 MWp will be now offered for allocation and additional 300 MWp will follow. The allocation is based on a two-stage procedure. The pre-qualification phase ends on 5 May 2017. You can download the documents from the following link:

http://www.idc.co.zm/tender/scaling-solar-round-2-%E2%80%93%C2%A0request-prequalification-utility-scale-solar-photovoltaic-ipp

In the first tender round, bids for two solar parks, 50 MWp each, were accepted with the asking price at 6.02 U.S. cents /kWh. The winning bids were submitted by France's Neoen SAS and First Solar. The state-owned utility company ZESCO is the power off-taker with whom the supply agreement with a term of 25 years will be concluded. Neoen signed the agreement in March 2017, the signing of the second agreement is planned for May 2017.

Besides Zambia, Scaling Solar operates so far also in Senegal, Madagascar and Ethiopia. The project is financed by USAID's Power Africa, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and Denmark, as well as DevCo.

BMUB's export initiative for environmental technologies

The aim of the export initiative is to promote and increase the knowledge and usage of environmental and climate protection technologies as well as innovative infrastructure in underdeveloped countries. The focus is on basic public services. The subsidy is granted among other things for:

• feasibility studies conducted abroad
• country studies
• pilot projects abroad
• international networking

The subsidy is granted in form of non-repayable grants, the subsidy quota depends on project related expenses and the possible commitment of own funds – therefore, the level of subsidy is dependent on project specifications. State aid law requirements must be met.

The application procedure is composed of two stages. First, project ideas are submitted only per e-mail by 15 May 2017. Positively assessed ideas move to the next phase where applications are filed. The procedure should be completed in the third quarter of 2017. This deadline is not absolute. Generally, it is possible to submit project ideas until 30 November 2017, but it may be that they will not be considered anymore.