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Request for proposals are invited for Terms of Reference for Service Provider to Develop a Tool Focused on Energy Efficiency and Quantification of Energy Demand, Specifically Tailored for Pre-Designing Solar Pv Systems Between 2020 and 2022, Lebanon faced a dual electricity crisis triggered by diesel shortages and subsidy removal, exacerbating the countrys economic challenges. This dual crisis not only strained the power generation capacity but also inflicted severe repercussions on the agricultural sector. Fuel scarcity disrupted agricultural operations, leading to a decrease in productivity and an increase in operational costs. Farms and businesses, such as cold storage facilities and agri-businesses, halted operations due to energy shortages, while transportation costs surged, resulting in losses of perishable goods. Despite the clear demand for energy across various agricultural operations such as irrigation, post-harvest processing including cold storages, and the running of farming infrastructures, the transition to solar energy faces significant challenges, including the high costs of installation and maintenance, inconsistent quality of service from small-scale installers and the reliance on informal sources for information, among others. These barriers highlight the complexity of shifting agriculture towards sustainable energy solutions and the critical need for specific strategies that tackle financial, informational, and regulatory challenges to enable wider adoption of solar technology. An understanding of the diverse energy needs within the sector is crucial, as solar energy holds considerable potential to address the demands of specifically post-harvest activities effectively, making targeted interventions essential for facilitating its broader solar integration into the agriculture sector. During the preliminary research and the key informant interviews phase, stakeholders disclosed several overlooked topics that remained untapped in the energy sector: Energy efficiency audits: These assessments are crucial for analysing the energy consumption patterns and efficiency in a building, facility, or system. However, despite their potential benefits, the implementation of such audits, even at basic levels (levels 1 and 2), remains prohibitively expensive for small businesses and the agriculture sector. Moreover, there exists a significant gap in the adoption of these audits among small businesses due to a lack of established culture and willingness to invest in them, further impeding their dissemination and proper implementation. Dissemination of accurate information on solar PV systems: Consumers interested in solar PV technology require expert guidance regarding the appropriate sizing of systems based on their energy demands. Typically, this information is provided by distributors, technicians, or suppliers. However, due to the high demand for solar PV systems, information dissemination primarily benefits larger businesses, leaving farmers and agri-businesses with limited access to essential information. Finding serious and reliable customers: Solar energy companies have noted considerable challenges in servicing customers within the agriculture sector, largely attributed to the lengthy process of screening these clients. This extended vetting period often leads to a low success rate in converting initial inquiries into completed sales as it takes time and resources to filter serious customers. Therefore, these companies have raised concerns that this not only slows down their operations but also affects their productivity and profitability, as they invest significant resources in such processes that frequently fail to come to execution. To address these challenges, the project is exploring a pilot intervention aimed at addressing the scarcity of energy-efficient information, the misinformation prevalent among rural consumers regarding solar PV systems and the lengthy and costly process finding reliable and serious customers. More precisely, the project is exploring the development of a user-driven tool centred on energy efficiency recommendations and quantification of energy demand, specifically tailored for pre-designing solar PV systems. This tool will aim to help farmers and agri-businesses determine the appropriate size of solar PV systems needed for their operations and estimate the payback period, as well as receiving guidance and recommendations on how to implement energy efficient measures. By providing this information, this assignment has a threefold approach aiming to: Facilitate decision-making and promote the potential adoption of solar energy systems in the agriculture sector. Lower barriers of information on practical energy efficiency recommendations to reduce energy consumption and therefore energy related costs of farms. Support solar energy suppliers reach serious customers who are willing to invest in solar energy systems, specifically in rural areas. Closing Date: Tuesday, 07. May 2024 Intervention Sector(s): Development, Environment Tender Link : https://daleel-madani.org/civil-society-directory/international-labour-organization-0/calls/terms-reference-service-provider-develop-tool-focused-energy-efficiency-and-quantification-energy
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