Innovating for Impact

In FY 2019, SURE guided governments, electric utilities, private energy developers and other energy entities to plan strategically, train inclusively, and take decisive action toward reducing energy costs and encouraging private investment as part of their journey to self-reliance.

As prices for clean energy technology continue to fall, developing countries are increasingly taking advantage of innovative methods to deliver more power to their people. Through the Scaling Up Renewable Energy (SURE) project, USAID is supporting partner countries with the policy, planning, procurement, and private sector engagement strategies needed to realize a renewable energy future.

Making Renewable Energy a Reality

Colombia was the most visible beneficiary of USAID support through the Scaling Up Renewable Energy project during the year, as evidenced through the enthusiasm of President Duque’s statement at the close of the country’s first successful renewable energy auction. An auction is a transparent and competitive process for awarding new energy contracts. Colombia’s auction awarded contracts that will boost the country’s renewable energy capacity by nearly 1,400 megawatts at historically low prices. In one year, USAID’s SURE project co-hosted 13 events that trained 1,200 participants from 13 countries.

Planning for a Renewable Energy Future

Through the project, USAID also supported several partner countries with their goals to expand renewable energy generation and grid integration. USAID’s project team:

• Delivered capacity-building workshops, knowledge exchanges, and trainings in 20 countries
• Launched a variable renewable energy (VRE) forecasting pilot program in Indonesia
• Delivered white papers on strategic energy resource planning, system operations and VRE forecasting
• Published multiple design and planning tools for auction practitioners

Advancing Gender Equality

Through the project, USAID also works with electric utilities to improve gender equality, which studies show can increase investment in renewable power generation. Over the last year, USAID’s Engendering Utilities program added ten new partner utilities from nine countries, and now has 17 partners in 14 countries committed to advancing opportunities for women in a traditionally male-dominated sector. The program is expanding its reach to the water sector and will add 10 new partner utilities next year.

Looking Ahead to Year 3

USAID’s team has planted important seeds for renewable energy growth in Bangladesh and Indonesia and plans to deliver three regional events in Asia and Africa to discuss global best practices in competitive procurement of renewable energy and storage, key design elements, and innovations applicable to each region. The project continues to work in countries where achieving large-scale clean energy deployment is a priority for emission reduction and building the foundation for energy security.