Renewable Energy for Developing Countries
Partnerships for Sustainable Development
RforD builds strategic partnerships on all levels with all stakeholders involved and interested in the topics of electrification, renewable energy, climate change, poverty alleviation and development.
Global Partners
Global partners are those whose cooperation with RforD is not confined to one country or project.
Financing:
Private or institutional investors, foundations, development and environmental funds, agencies and banks, they are all involved in RforD capacity building and RforD projects.
Internationally active NGOs mostly have large contact networks that do prove useful in many cases. Similar aims and complementary activities are enough reasons for cooperation.
RET (Renewable Energy Technology) equipment producer count among RforD's main partners from the industry. RET supplier often are of European origin as the best and most reliable technology still stems from the European continent. However, RforD is conscious about the importance of developing a local production base for RET in developing countries in order to supply equipment at moderate cost along with the required maintenance and repair service industry - both largely inexistent so far.
To benefit at the same time from European quality and developing country's low production cost, RforD encourages RET enterprises from both sides to join their efforts in joint-ventures or any other from of cooperation (see programs - RET supply development)
RforD has built up relations with the UN-System, notably UNIDO, UNDP and UNF for support of its activities at international institutional level
Political support at national and grassroots levels help keep political risk at a low level. Government endorsement of RforD Projects makes sure projects are in line with national development objectives. This is especially important for CDM projects that require formal host country approval in order to benefit from international carbon funds.
Cooperation with authorities opens also channels for projects to become part of national subsidised programs.
Local NGOs are excellent partners for project developers as they have a thorough inside knowledge of both target region and target communities with geographic, climate and cultural specificities. They are the closest to target communities but have the advantage of being organised and mostly equipped with modern information technologies.
Where possible, RforD integrates local initiatives and know-how in RE projects. The aim is to create within each project a nucleus of entrepreneurs. If candidates are existent, they are involved. If no local initiative is found, RforD Focal Points empower rural communities through commercial and technical training and awareness rising.
A rather large part of total project cost come from civil engineering and construction works for the installation of the RE production sites. This is especially true for small hydropower. By involving local people in project implementation, not only project cost can be sensibly cut, but it is also a step towards identification with and understanding of their new RE production site.
Four organisations have joined to manifest support for the RforD initiative from the very beginning. They were RforD's first partners, and their geographic location is a good illustration for the EU - China - Bridge: RforD bridges the gap.
The European Renewable Energy Council - EREC
Situated in the Renewable Energy House in Brussels, EREC is the common representative of the European RET industry. As an umbrella organisation, EREC has the following members:ESHA: European Small Hydro Association
EPIA: European Photovoltaic Industry Association
ESIF: European Solar Industry Association
EWEA: European Wind Energy Association
EUBIA: European Biomass Industry Association
EUREC: European Renewable Energy Research Centers AgencyEuropean Small Hydro Association - ESHA
Even though already linked to RforD via EREC, ESHA is a privileged partner of RforD, as RforD is dedicated to the use of small hydropower first, if there is enough potential available. We believe that SHP is the first-best solution for rural electrification if there should be a significant effect in terms of poverty alleviation. (see development projects for details)
ESHA provides first class technology and know-how, as well as support for project preparation to RforD.
The International Network on Small Hydro Power - IN-SHP
IN-SHP is a member-based international non-profit organisation with NGO status. It is dedicated to join the interests of its members in the productive use of water resources worldwide in the form of small hydropower plants, as a clean and environmentally sound means of rural electrification and sustainable development.
IN-SHP was RforD's first partner in China.
Like RforD China, IN-SHP is located at the Hangzhou International Center in Hangzhou, near to Shanghai.
Chinese Renewable Energy Industry Association - CREIA
CREIA represents the "new" renewable energy industry in China. It is still early to talk about a real industry, for the moment the are only a few companies engaged in new RE production and marketing. However, CREIA's missions is the preparation of the rapid commercialisation of renewable energies in China.
CREIA is engaged in lobbying for RE and the collection of project data. Together with RforD China, CREIA builds international contacts and partnerships for project implementation in China.