Scaling Up Renewable Energy — 2023 Annual Report

Agency for International Development (USAID), aims to accelerate the transition to clean energy in partner countries. This transition is driven by technological advancements that have reduced the cost of renewable energy, making it more competitive with fossil fuels. As a result, renewable energy can power economies, open markets to private investment, combat the climate crisis, and create local jobs. In 2023, SURE worked across the globe, advising governments, utilities, private developers, banks, and other stakeholders on actions to increase renewable energy deployment and integration, improve electricity access, and power brighter futures for all. Through SURE, USAID helped partner countries accelerate their own transitions to clean energy and move closer to achieving net-zero global carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. In Colombia, SURE provided technical support to help reconstruct and strengthen the resilience of Providencia Island's power grid after a devastating hurricane. SURE worked with the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) to procure a 2.5 megawatt (MW) battery energy storage system to complement a planned 1.8 MW solar farm, and to identify strategies and actions to advance electric mobility (e-mobility) and create the first completely electric transportation system in the country. Providencia's shift toward renewable energy and storage is estimated to reduce diesel fuel consumption by 30 percent and imported fuel costs by over $450,000 per year. In Egypt and Guatemala, SURE assessed the power sectors to provide insightful qualitative and quantitative analysis that can be used to design new development projects. SURE also assessed the draft auction design in Jamaica, where experts identified barriers to investment and recommended improvements based on international best practices. In Ecuador, SURE experts interviewed private companies and government officials to obtain lessons learned from the last energy procurement and identify improvements for the new procurement process. SURE is working with utilities in El Salvador and Guatemala to demonstrate how considering gender-based differences in energy needs, uses, and access can increase electricity demand and sustainable revenue for power utilities while supporting women's productivity and economic empowerment. At Distribuidora de Electricidad del Sur (DELSUR), SURE's utility partner in El Salvador, SURE helped identify clean energy and energy-efficient appliances that can help women increase productivity, and is supporting the design of a financing program that will enable unbanked women to pay for the appliances over time through their electricity bill. In Senegal, SURE recognized that though business opportunities for solar water pumps existed, banks were hesitant to lend due to a lack of familiarity with the business models. Through SURE, USAID provided four grants valued at $550,000 that will help buy down the risk for private co-financiers and demonstrate the viability of the business models. The grants will mobilize an additional $2.1 million to convert diesel and manual water pumping systems to solar. In Ecuador, SURE provided technical assistance to banks and developers to help shrimp farmers access financing for clean energy projects that power their business operations, triple productivity, and reduce emissions and costs from diesel. SURE also trained Wayuu youth on circular economy opportunities in their communities and proven approaches that can be applied to benefit Colombia's clean energy transition.