ECOWAS Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE)

Background

"On 12 November 2007, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) organized a conference on Peace and Security in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The Ouagadougou Declaration highlighted the need for regional cooperation in various sectors. In the energy sector, the declaration articulated the need to establish a ECOWAS Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE).

The foundation for the Centre was laid with Regulation C/REG.23/11/08 of the 61st Session of ECOWAS Council of Ministers in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on November 23, 2008. ECREEE is a specialized ECOWAS Agency which acts as an independent body but within the legal, administrative and financial framework of ECOWAS rules and regulations.

In November 2009 the ECOWAS Commission established ECREEE with support of the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Government of Cape Verde. The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) joined the initiative and supports the project activities of ECREEE."

Regional Response to the Interrelated Challenges in the Energy Sector

"The proposal to establish ECREEE is a necessary regional response to the specific needs of ECOWAS Member States as expressed in national and regional policies. It is also responding to international energy and climate policy decisions.

It is acknowledged that without major investments in sustainable energy frameworks and infrastructure in West Africa the regional energy access, energy security and climate objectives cannot be achieved simultaneously in the forthcoming decades.

Apart from being a low-carbon solution, renewable energy (RE) systems can increase access to modern, affordable and reliable energy services, improve energy security and support the region’s economic and social development in an environmentally benign manner. RE systems are especially effective if they are combined with energy efficiency (EE) measures which are usually available at low cost."

Vision and Mission

"The ECREEE vision and mission is guided by the energy policy decisions of ECOWAS. The adopted ECOWAS/UEMOA White Paper on access to energy services in rural and peri-urban areas in West Africa provided a clear vision regarding the role of energy services for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) particularly and socio-economic development in general. The White Paper expresses ambitious numerical targets for access to modern cooking fuels, to motive power for productive activities and to electricity.The important role of RE&EE in future investments was highlighted in the policy document."

Vision Statement

"To improve energy security, increase access to modern, affordable and reliable energy services and support the region’s economic and social development in an environmentally benign manner through the promotion and use of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies in ECOWAS member states."

Mission Statement

"In line with the vision statement above and the Plan of Action on access to modern energy services set forth in the White Paper, the Mission Statement for ECREEE has been formulated as follows: To lead and coordinate the implementation of the ECOWAS/UEMOA regional action plan and White Paper on energy access for increasing access to energy services by promoting the use of renewable energy resources; To improve energy security by promoting energy efficient technologies in ECOWAS member states; To contribute to achievement of the MDGs in West Africa by making available to at least half of the people in the region, access to modern energy services using RE&EE technologies. To enable the ECOWAS energy sectors to take advantage of Carbon Finance and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)."

Activities

"The Centre supports activities and tries to mobilize funds for the creation of regional renewable energy and energy efficiency markets. The activities of ECREEE aim at the creation of an enabling environment and favorable framework conditions for the widespread usage of RE&EE technologies. Five thematic programs of ECREEE are proposed to address the challenges and barriers to market penetration of RE&EE technologies and services in the region."

"The five thematic programs can be described as follows:

• Tailored Policy Frameworks and Quality Standards
• Facilitate Capacity building
• Advocacy, Awareness Raising, Knowledge Management and Networking
• Implementation of Renewable Energy Programs and Projects
• Implementation of Energy Efficiency Programs and Projects"

Resources

ECREEE Tools

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ECREEE Programs

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