Opportunity - Request for EOI for the Solarization of UNHCR Deep Field Compounds
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- Humanitarian Energy
- Solar
- Other
- Climate Change
- Kenya
- South Sudan
UNHCR seeks qualified companies for the provision of solar electricity as a service. The purpose of this Expression of Interest (EOI) is to;
- Obtain information on the experience, expertise, capability and financial resources of interested companies/consortia; and
- Establish a shortlist of pre-qualified bidders for the next tender stage.
This tender will be run as a two-stage process with this first EOI stage followed by a Request for Proposal (RFP)/Request for Proposals for the pre-qualified bidders, which is planned to be launched during 2023.
Project Background
In 2007, the United Nations (UN) system embarked on a journey to integrate environmental sustainability in its facilities and operations. In 2020, the UN system generated -1.5 million tonnes CO2eq greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with per capita emissions of 5 tonnes CO2eq. The sources of the emissions were 32 per cent from air travel, 12 per cent from other travel (rail, road, sea, etc.) and 55 per cent from facilities.
One major source of emissions is linked to the fact that UNHCR and WFP run diesel generators, particularly in large field compounds 'deep field' Africa operations. Converting these compounds to solar energy could have both a positive carbon impact and a positive financial impact, since solar energy is expected to be cheaper than existing diesel/fossil fuel generation in may geographies.
UNHCR and WFP are committed to improve their environmental performance, climate compatibility and resource efficiency by reducing its fossil fuels, purchasing green energy from reliable suppliers and undertaking other sustainability initiatives. However, the upfront investment needed to support such a transition to clean energy and sustainable infrastructure can be significant and for UNHCR and WFP to provide this, it would compete for limited resources with humanitarian priorities.
The compounds considered for solarization under this tender generally comprise offices hosting UNHCR and/ or WFP's administrative, support and management services and, in certain locations, accommodation hosting UNHCR and/ or WFP staff and/or partner organizations' premises. Although adjacent to or located near the operational sites managed by UNHCR, compounds are distinct from the actual sites hosting refugee communities. All sites considered for this procurement modality are estimated to have as system size of around 500kWp.
In close collaboration with the German Cooperation (GIZ), UNHCR has conducted a first round of competitive procurement of electricity from private sector independent power producers (IPPs) for a first set of diesel-powered operations in East Africa."Kenya, South Sudan" is not in the list (Worldwide, Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, ...) of allowed values for the "Country Opportunity" property.