Energy Programme: Assessment framework for identification of productive use of renewable energy opportunities

About the event

With support from the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), ICIMOD’s Energy Programme is organising a consultation workshop in collaboration with the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC), Government of Nepal, to discuss the assessment framework to identify productive use of renewable energy opportunities in greater detail in agriculture and tourism sectors following the scoping workshop held on 9 June 2023 in Katmandu, Nepal.

Objectives

• Discuss and refine the assessment parameters and indicators of the framework
• Establish consensus on the selected parameters and indicators of the assessment framework

Expected outputs

• Obtain expert validation on the assessment of dimensions and indicators
• Achieve a shared understanding of the structure of the assessment report

Background

In the face of escalating climate change challenges, mountain communities require adequate, affordable, and reliable renewable energy more than ever to ensure sustainable development. Each regional member country of ICIMOD possesses distinctive energy policies, incentives, and regulations, influencing production, distribution, and consumption strategies. To address the broader imperative of sustainable development, tailored policies and incentives are indispensable for mountain communities to harness renewable energy effectively. Unlocking opportunities for optimal renewable energy use within these communities necessitates a comprehensive understanding of ground realities encompassing energy needs, available resources, infrastructure, policies, governance, tax structures, incentives, strategies, and socio-economic contexts. In this context, ICIMOD has developed an assessment framework in consultation with stakeholders engaged in renewable energy and energy efficiency. The assessment framework aims to identify the productive use of renewable energy opportunities in the agriculture and tourism sectors.

Therefore, this consultation workshop aims to invite about 20 plus agencies to discuss and finalise key assessment parameters and indicators, which will be later used as a guiding document to assess the Productive Use of Renewable Energy (PURE) opportunities in the agriculture and tourism sectors. Relevant eight parameters, which include general trends on PURE application, policy and regulation, technology, market demand, social aspect, economic aspect, environmental aspect, and various risks, have been identified to be assessed in detail. The workshop will discuss whether these suggested parameters are comprehensive enough or need to be added/omitted. The workshop will then identify corresponding indicators with rationale and develop recommendations on how these parameters could be used for designing institutional and governance mechanisms for the implementation of the PURE Programme.

Agenda