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OAS Participates in Call for Proposals from REEEP for Clean Energy Projects in Latin America and the Caribbean

The Organization of American States (OAS), in its function as Regional Secretary of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), is participating in the Eighth Program Cycle of this institution, which is currently requesting proposals for projects that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency in the world, particularly Latin America and the Caribbean.

The REEEP Program Cycle announced a call for clean energy projects in Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and South Africa, with the intention to finance approximately 30 projects with the financial support of the United Kingdom and Norway. Donations of up to 150,000 euros will be awarded (approximately 210,000 dollars) that the beneficiaries will use to for the implementation of better political practices, regulations, business areas and finances.

The OAS,that functions as Regional Secretary of the REEEP for Latin America and the Caribbean, provides services to the members of the Partnership and supervises the projects that are being executed in Mexico and Brazil. This year the application process was expedited, and the final selection of projects will take place at the end of June. The application will only take place online, through Project Management Information System (PMIS) that includes live support for users.

Most new projects are asked to make preliminary concept submissions by 15th April. A shortlist will be made by the end of April, and those who are successful will then be asked to submit full proposals by 27th May.

Proposals for replication and scale-up of earlier projects as well as proposals from governments, regulators and development financial institutions follow a one-stage process, with the deadline for detailed proposals in full being 27th May 2011.

Bidders for specific commissioned projects that REEEP has already pre-defined should submit a pre-qualification request by 15th April, and full proposals will be invited from pre-qualified firms, also by May 27th.

More detailed information on application procedures as well as the link to the PMIS system can be found on the REEEP website here.

Preference will be given to proposals that address key barriers to the uptake of renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE). Proposals covering one of the following four programe priorities will have funding priority: the promotion of successful and innovative business models for clean energy solutions; supporting innovative financing approaches including clean energy finance facilities and instruments; clean energy policy support for national and regional governments to accelerate the development of the RE and EE markets; and strengthening of energy regulatory mechanisms and standards such as building codes, grid codes and appliance standards and labeling.

The projects will be realized with a contribution of 4.5 million euros (approximately 6.3 million dollars) donated by the governments of the United Kingdom and Norway, which allowed the financing for each project to increase by 50 percent to 150,000 euros (approximately 210,000) dollars.

Those initiatives being implemented since 2006 provided the base for: analyzing the impediments to renewable energies in Argentina (Secretary of Energy and Bariloche Foundation); new proposals for a law of stimulus for renewable energies in Guatemala (Ministry of Energy and Mining and Solar Foundation); promoting more efficient heating systems in the Brazilian State of Ceará; and supporting new studies on geothermal energy in México (National Regulatory Commission on Energy).

Marianne Osterkorn, Director General of REEEP says: "Thanks to the generous financial contributions from the UK and Norway, REEEP is in a position to launch its 8th programme cycle and to pursue its work in low-carbon energy with its partners in developing countries and emerging markets."

“Through our projects, we are aiming to provide an evidence base for global public policy for transition towards a green economy,” notes Binu Parthan, REEEP’s Deputy Director General in charge of programmes. “In addition to the key low-carbon energy technologies of renewable energy and energy efficiency we also plan to support several projects that address smart grids, low-carbon transportation and fossil-fuel subsidy reforms.”

For more information, please visit the OAS Website at www.oas.org.

Reference: E-594/11