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Title

International Consultant on Hydropower Plants for Building Capacities to Access Carbon Finance in Albania Project
Posted
Reference   (Please mention Stopdodo/Environment Jobs in your application)
Sectors Sustainability, Climate, CSR, EMS
Location Albania - Europe
Town/City Tirana
Type Temporary / Contract / Seasonal
Status Full Time
Level Senior Level
Deadline 08/09/2009
Company Name United Nations Development Program
Contact Name Human Resources
Website Further Details / Applications
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Description
90% of Albania’s domestic electricity production comes from large hydropower sources, and between 30% and 50% of the country’s needs are imported. Albania’s immediate energy strategy is to extend its transmission connection to neighbouring countries to expand its import options in an attempt to control import prices. Over the medium-term the country plans to build 600 MW of thermal power and 200MW of large hydropower to meet base-load requirements, while large cheap hydropower capacity will be used to meet peak load and in the event of excess supply be exported. The strategy would result in some diversification and buffer the country from import prices and un-predictable hydrology and the impacts of climate change. In addition Albania plans to develop 150 MW of small hydropower by 2020. Albania’s small hydro resources are relatively untapped and have the potential to generate relatively cheap power. 10 MW of capacity are currently generating power, at a whole sale price of $4.92 cents/KWh while the country estimates it has another 160MW of capacity of small hydro-power that could be developed at a cost of 5.9 – 7.6 cents/KWh and a further 80MW at $7.7 to $12.5 cents/KWh.
In January 2007 the Government of Albania approved a new concession law to encourage among other things development of small hydro-sites by private investors. In 2007 the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy (METE) received 120 proposals for water use concessions for small hydropower production. As of November 2007, 5 of these proposals have been approved and a further 20 or 30 are now in the last stages of the approval process. Under Albanian law the next steps are to complete full environment impact assessments and receive approvals from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Water Administration (MoEFWA), apply to local and central Council of Territory Committee for construction licences and operation licenses from Electricity Regulatory Agency (ERE) and lastly work with the local power distribution company to connect to the power grid. Few of the new applicants have yet applied for a construction/operation license.
In addition to the above-mentioned efforts, in further developing small hydro-power resources which makes strategic sense for the country, Albania should profit by putting together and applying for funds either within the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) or by a CDM project.
Regarding the CDM, the Government of Albania assisted by the Austrian Development Agency and UNDP is developing its public and private sector capacities to access carbon finance by (i) creating legal and institutional framework for carbon finance and (ii) building in-country capacities for identification, implementation of and resource mobilization for the GHG reduction projects eligible for CDM and other carbon market mechanisms. Under this initiative, a CDM project was developed into a PIN (Project Idea Note), which entails a country-wide programme in Albania to install SHPPs through the CDM Programme of Activities (PoA). The Programme of activities is the generation of electricity through hydropower within a distinct geographical area. Through this project, electricity will be generated from a renewable source, thereby replacing Albania’s conventional source and achieving GHG reductions.
A concept for a GEF project proposal on development of the Small Hydropower resources has been put together with the assistance of the UNDP-Bratislava Regional Centre. In order to progress with the submission of the project proposal under the GEF-4 Strategic Program/3 – Promoting Market Approaches for Renewable Energy, it is necessary to update project proposal and to address comments of the GEF Secretariat.

 

Duties and Responsibilities

The objective of this assignment is to further elaborate the proposal on the development of Small Hydropower Resources in Albania to be submitted to the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) for funding. This will include elaboration of the Project Identification Form (PIF) and a Project Preparation Grant (PPG) in a standard GEF template. The full set of already prepared documents and the related comments will be made available to the consultant at the starting point of his/her assignment.
Scope of the assignment and main tasks:
  • Brief national partners on the GEF CC Focal Area Strategy, project development process and requirements; 
  • Conduct a brief stakeholder analysis;
  • Based on the desk review and data collected during the mission to Albania, assess the Albania’s current situation with regard to the current and planned small hydro power plants and the overall potential for further development of this sector;
  • Redesign the current project framework taking into account the GEF Sec comments and update the Project Identification Form - PIF and Project Preparation Grant – PPG accordingly. In particular, the update should focus on the following:   

Cost-effectiveness of the project. The project design should be improved to become more cost-effective.

Global environment benefits. Global environment benefits shall be re-assessed. The connection between cost-effectiveness of the project and global environment benefits should be strengthened.

Relevant initiatives. Achievements of the completed and on-going relevant projects, especially by USAID and KfW should be clarified. The boundaries between all relevant initiatives and the proposed project should be made clearer.

Incremental reasoning. Incremental reasoning has to be more clearly formulated, demonstrating the added value of the project. 

Risk assessment. Risk assessment and risk mitigation measures have to be updated and elaborated on. 

Co-financing. Co-financing has to be updated and additional sources of co-financing should be explored.

Project components. Each of the project components have to be redesigned to address specific comments from GEFSec..

  • Prepare ToRs for the major consultancies to be undertaken during the PPG stage;
Following the receipt of GEF comments ensure that the PIF and PPG clearly address the recommendations provided by the GEF secretariat.
List of deliverables and time-line
  • Mission report including the overall assessment of the potential for further development of the SHPPs in Albania (October 10);
  • PIF & PPG (October 25);
  • Response Note to GEFSEC comments (October 25);
  • ToRs for the major consultancies to be undertaken during the PPG stage (October 25)

Timeline and implementation arrangements:

The total duration of assignment will be up to 15 working days in the period between September 01 and November 10, 2009. The assignment will involve desk study and one mission to Albania. Throughout the assignment the consultant will work in close collaboration with UNDP Climate Change Programme.

 

Competencies

  • Excellent understanding of issues pertaining to Small Hydropower Plants, advanced post-graduate degree in hydro power engineering, renewable energy, environmental disciplines, etc.;
  • A working knowledge of Small Hydro Power Plants Projects preferably in Europe;
  • Very good interpersonal and cross-cultural communication and negotiating skills with project partners;
  • Excellent organizational, written and verbal communication skills.

 

Required Skills and Experience

  • 5-10 years of experience in environmental projects. Previous experience on project design, especially UNDP and/or GEF projects is an advantage;
  • Recent and proven experience in developing GEF Projects under Climate Change Focal Area. Preparation of previous successful PIFs and PPGs is an advantage;
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