KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND AWARENESS
The non-availability of reliable and updated energy information creates a major constraint for investors and project developers in the sustainable energy sector in the ECOWAS region. Key energy country data on existing policies, laws, stakeholders, prices, generation costs, resources, investments and potential project sites is, in many cases, not available or not up to date. The lack of quality information is perceived as a major investment risk by investors and project developers. Information on good practices or successful (or unsuccessful) projects is not readily available. Moreover, the awareness of key market enablers and the general public on the opportunities offered by RE&EE technologies and services is low. The Centre has therefore initiated several key programs to enhance the existing knowledge and awareness barriers:
ECREEE is executing the ECOWAS Renewable Energy Potential Assessment Program. It aims at the establishment of a benchmark on renewable energy capacities, stakeholders, policies, investments, resources and project sites in the ECOWAS region. Under the program the Centre is executing the following activities:
- In the context of the formulation of the targets of the ECOWAS Renewable Energy Policy (EREP), the Centre has developed a renewable energy baseline report which provides detailed information on the existing national and regional policies and laws, investments, resources and economics of renewable energy technologies. The report includes an RE scenario for the ECOWAS region by 2030.
- The Centre has undertaken several RE potential assessments such as the bio-crops assessment, the wind and solar resource assessment, the small hydro baseline report, and the CSP potential assessment. These reports are available in the programs section.
- Under the ECOWAS Renewable Energy Investment and Business Initiative (EREI) the Centre developed a pipeline of potential grid-connected RE investment projects.
- In the area of capacity development, the Centre implemented a regional capacity needs assessment in cooperation with local universities.
ECREEE has launched the ECOWAS Observatory for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECOWREX), a web-based tool easily accessible via the internet. The ECOWREX provides decision makers, project developers, investors and other marked enablers with updated information and planning data on RE&EE opportunities in the ECOWAS region. The ECOWREX promotes the use of geospatial technology and other current web technologies to disseminate the knowledge and technical know-how that exist within and outside the region. Moreover, the portal, together with the ECREEE website, allows the building up of renewable energy communities and other kinds of cooperation between key market enablers.
Further information on workshops, conferences and events organized by ECREEE in this context can be found here.
The ECREEE Business Plan aims to achieve the following results by 2016:.
Knowledge management
- Establish the ECOWAS Observatory for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECOWREX) and catalogue 500 documents in the database
- Record 20,000 downloads from the ECOWREX
- Conduct Resource Assessments (solar and wind) contrasted with field measurements (max 10% of data error) of 20% of regional territory
- Conduct Resource Assessment (flow and height) of 50% of the rivers in the region
- Conduct bioenergy crops assessment of 100% of territory in the region
- Organize 6 regional RE&EE conferences with more than 720 participants
- Give 90 presentations at major conferences
- Prepare five policy statements/briefs for regional and international policy and decision-making processes
- Complete two flagship ECOWAS RE&EE publications
