Consultant: Rural Area Energy

Rural area energy supply has been one of the most important and priority issues for the Mongolian Governments since a centralized economy and a significant amount of funds were spent on solving the issue. The Government has been making considerable efforts to address the issue with technical assistance or loans from the former socialist countries mostly, the Soviet Union . As a result, the rural settlements were supplied and connected to energy sources from the beginning of the 1970s. Ever since, three energy sources can be distinguished within the country:

• Centralized energy grid;
• Non-centralized energy sources; and
• Small-scale/portable energy sources;

Supply of and access to energy/electricity sources and services among the rural population are still limited and inadequate. This is especially the case for Soum[1] centers with diesel stations, where the Soum center residents are provided with electricity for only 5 hours a day or less, due to increased fuel prices. The only option for the rural nomads is small-scale portable energy generators, where affordability is an issue. Since the 1990s, the Mongolian Government has re-vitalized its efforts to supply rural people who have a nomadic lifestyle with renewable energy sources through grant aid and log-term loans provided by post-industrial countries. As a result, approximately 32% of herder families possessed small-scale solar panels and wind generators in 2004. Outside the rural settlements, most rural herders use electricity merely to supply their very basic needs for example, lighting and watching TV. This is due to the limited capacity of affordable and portable sun batteries and wind energy generators, which are often used by the nomadic population.

Moreover, has an extreme continental climate with harsh and cold winters. Heating is required continuously for 8-9 months in average. In order to decrease the use of non-renewable energy sources for heating and cooking, it is essential to decrease the use of coal and especially firewood and increase the production of efficient energy. Using wood for fuel leads to a depletion of forest resources with which is not rich, especially through the use of non-renewable resources for heating public buildings in soum centers during the cold season. In particular, certain species of bush that prevent sand movement are being overused in southern parts of the country. On the other hand, there is need to improve efficiency of energy production by coal and other fuels for urban and rural gher[2] settlements. Although there are ongoing efforts by the Government and donor organizations to increase energy efficiency of household stoves through modified design and brick fuels, a level of adoption and acceptance amongst users seem to be relatively low.

Within the framework of the Country Programme Outcome 3.4, UNDP Mongolia aims at increasing access to affordable and efficient energy options for rural low-income households. The current study will contribute to defining policy and technology options for achieving this outcome and be a part of UNDP’s efforts to support the Government of Mongolia to achieve the MDGs.

• Review of secondary sources, including but not limited to provided UNDP reports and programmes and their statuses: 
• Organize extensive consultations with Government counterparts and other stakeholders on rural energy supply strategy with specific focus on heating energy. At a later stage, meetings to be organized to validate the recommendations.   
• On the basis of existing documents and consultations with Government counterparts, analyze existing and/or planned policies and strategies on rural energy supply and the key barriers to ensuring their implementation, appropriateness and effectiveness; 
• Identify gaps and recommend potential activities/interventions that would address the improvement of energy utilization efficiency in the operation of energy production and supply services; 
• Assess institutional and human resources capacity to adapt the recommended technology options;   
• Validate financial and technical feasibility of recommended options for rural energy supply, especially for nomadic population outside the rural settlements;
• Identify potential national and international partners for the recommended measures; and
• Discuss and validate the proposed options at a stakeholder workshop;

Deliverables

Consultancy report on the findings, including:

Analysis of existence and implementation of Government policies and programmes on rural energy supply and provision, their status and future trend;Potential options for improved energy utilization efficiency in the operation of energy production and supply services a) Options ranked by the financial and technical feasibilities; b) National international partners for proposed options; and c) Identified barriers and recommendations to address the barriers for the proposed options;

• In-depth knowledge in technical, economic, institutional, regulatory, and financing aspects of energy production and supply in general, and energy efficiency in Asian countries with extreme cold climates; 
• Working experience in the cold climate countries, in general, and/or in , in particular is preferable;
• Extensive experience in energy efficiency technology applications and familiarity with, and updated on, various international practices;
• Previous experiences in working with UNDP will be an asset;

• Advanced/Postgraduate degree in relevant energy, environment and engineering fields;
• At least 10 years of work experience in respective expertise area;