International Consultant - Development of guidelines for optimal solar project design and implementation

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Application deadline 2 years ago: Monday 15 Nov 2021 at 23:59 UTC

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This is a International Consultant contract. More about International Consultant contracts.

Background

NOTE: Signed Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and availability - https://www.ba.undp.org/content/dam/bosnia_and_herzegovina/docs/Operations/Jobs/Offerors%20Letter%20to%20UNDP%20Confirming%20Interest%20and%20Availability.docx - Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability.docx - to be sent to e-mail ba.shared.hr@undp.org with Subject: Job ID 102773.

Bosnia-Herzegovina (BIH) is a highly decentralized country comprising 145 local governments located in two entities, Republika Srpska (RS) and Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), and a separate administrative unit - Brc?ko District (BD). Majority of BIH’s electricity generation capacity is made up of hydropower and coal power plants. High dependency on fossil fuels, makes the BiH a country with one of the worst air quality in Europe and high-risk country when it comes to respiratory diseases related to air pollution. World Bank data reveal that 99,6% of the BIH population is exposed to PM2.5 air pollution which exceeds the WHO guidelines values. WHO data further show that BIH has the highest European mortality rates attributed to air pollution with 27% of all deaths attributable to the environmental factors. One of the root causes can be attributed to the insufficient utilization of renewable energy sources (RES). As only two true large renewable energy power plants, two existing wind farms located in the southwestern part of BiH, Mesihovina and Jelovac?a, produced a total of 262 GWh in 2020. Production from smaller renewable power plants amounted to 399.25 GWh, with dominant share of small hydropower plants with 341.02 GWh and just 45.62 GWh produced in solar power plants. Given that BiH has applied for membership of the EU, situation in energy sector is expected to undergo a significant change. Once the country joins the EU it will need to adopt the EU Climate Acquis in its entirety, which will result in significant changes in incentives and prioritizing of RES in the energy sector. The EU’s long term climate ambition will require complete decarbonization of the electricity sector before 2050, a requirement that will extend to BiH. This will initiate policy changes that are expected to result in a significant shift towards RES in BiH’s energy sector, which has long remained reliant on fossil fuels and hydropower. In a long-term decarbonization scenario, solar is expected to contribute to BiH’s future electricity mix significantly, which goes in line with the country’s large theoretical potential for solar energy, estimated at 70,5 million GWh. Report of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) report on renewable energy generation costs has shown that the cost of solar photovoltaic (PV) continues to come down, with the global weighted-average levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of utility scale PV plants declined by 82% between 2010 and 2019, from around USD 0.378/kWh to USD 0.068/kWh in 2019, with a 13% reduction year-on-year in 2019.2 IRENA’s research on potential of solar energy in South East Europe shows that BiH will have approximately 3 GW of cost-effective solar PV potential by 2030. Currently this potential is far from being utilized, as in 2020 the country only had around 19 MW of installed solar capacity. The project “Accelerating Clean Energy Transition Through Utilization of Solar Energy Potential in Bosnia and Herzegovina” has the objective to stimulate the citizens, private and public buildings owners to use solar panels and collectors for production of renewable energy, as a measure to support clean energy transition, combat the air pollution and energy poverty, reduce GHG emission and the number of citizens suffering from respiratory diseases in Bosnia and Herzegovina. To its end, the project will facilitate development of friendly-environment for investment in technically and economically feasible solar solutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and then promote their wider uptake by citizens, private and public buildings owners via dedicated financial mechanism and funding windows established within the local level in BiH, as well as providing reliable quantification of solar potential to support implementation of a favorable policy and regulatory framework at the local, entity and national levels. The project will facilitate the transformation of the solar market by creating and expanding opportunities for businesses to get involved and increase their activities in the provision of solar systems in BIH. The Project has been financed by Slovak Aid funded Resource Mobilization Facility (RMF) and is directly implemented by UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina Country Office. To support the project objectives, the International Consultant will provide advisory and technical services for development of guidelines for optimal solar project design and implementation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The International Consultant will render technical support to the project team and government counterparts. The International Consultant will work under the overall guidance of and direct supervision from UNDP CO project focal point.

Duties and Responsibilities

To ensure quality and effectiveness of solar projects, the task of the Consultant is to develop guidelines for optimal project design and implementation of each step from initiation to realization of investment. International Consultant - Development of guidelines for optimal solar project design and implementation will provide services for implementation of following tasks:

  • Task 1: Analysis of current state in solar project design and implementation regulations and practices, which includes comparative analysis of solar project design and implementation, step by step, as defined by regulations and as conducted on-field, analysis of costs and time consumption, needed qualifications and additional requirements for each phase of the project. This analysis should identify differences among different types of systems as listed in Task 4.
  • Task 2: On-desk analysis of EU and international practices regarding solar project design and implementation regulations and practices and cross analysis of BiH current state with best practices in EU and worldwide. Results of the analysis in Task 1 will be cross analysed with international and EU practices, to determine the optimal solutions and recommendations for process improvement. This analysis should identify differences among different types of systems as listed in Task 4.
  • Task 3: Develop a list of recommendations and optimization measures as result of findings of analysis conducted in Tasks 1 and 2, with the goal of increasing the accuracy of project design, increasing efficiency of the system and optimization of each step of the process to contribute to increase in quality of solar systems in BiH and maximizing the financial and energy savings for end-users.
  • Task 4: Develop draft guidelines for optimal solar project design and implementation in regard to four different types of systems: small residential (up to 20kW), medium-size commercial (up to 100 kW), ground-mounted large scale, and floating large-scale. For small residential systems and medium-size commercial, the project will consider different sub types: a) based on energy type: PV and solar heating systems. b) PV based on connection to the grid: on-grid systems with/without incentive support, off-grid, prosumers and autarky solar systems, including systems with battery storage. Guidelines should also include suggestion for legal introduction of guidelines in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
  • Task 5: Present the draft guidelines to key stakeholders and collect comments and suggestions for improvement of the draft guidelines.
  • Task 6: Develop final version of guidelines for optimal solar project design and implementation, to be approved by key stakeholders and UNDP project team.

It is envisaged that the level of effort for these tasks will not exceed 25 expert days, as the International Consultant will conduct all tasks above in cooperation with the National Consultant. Due to the uncertain situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, final decision on modality of meetings with stakeholders and project team will be made in line with official recommendations. If not possible to organize face-to-face meetings, the meetings with project staff and governmental counterparts will be organized on remote basis. Outputs will be written report with regards to the Task 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 listed above. Written work will be supplemented by other requested consultation by phone and Teams.

Deliverables/outputs

#

Deliverables / Outputs

# of Days per Task

Due Date

Percentage

1.

Developed draft guidelines for optimal solar project design and implementation, approved by UNDP Project team

15

December 15th, 2021

60%

2.

Developed final version of guidelines for optimal solar project design and implementation, approved by UNDP Project team

10

January 28th, 2022

40%

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

  • Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
  • Treats all people fairly without favouritism;
  • Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment

Functional competencies:

  • Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, ability to work in a team
  • Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback
  • Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations
  • Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities
  • Excellent public speaking and presentation skills

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education

  • MSc degree in engineering sciences, environmental protection or other related field. PhD would be considered an asset.

Experience

  • At least seven (7) years of demonstrable relevant working experience and proven track record in technical, scientifical and socio-economic fields, in projects related to solar energy; experience from Slovak Republic would be considered an asset;
  • Proven experience and technical knowledge of solar project design and implementation of solar projects in EU and worldwide; experience from Slovak Republic would be considered an asset;
  • Good tehnical knowledge of solar systems and best practices in EU and internationally; experience from Slovak Republic would be considered an asset;
  • Good renewable energy market knowladge, in particular experience with solar projects; knowladge of Slovak Republic renewable energy market would be considered an asset;
  • Knowledge of the data gathering process, organization and conducting thorough identification of relevant documents related to solar energy.

Languages Requirements

  • Knowledge of English language (excellent writing, editing and communication skills); knowledge of local language in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be considered as advantage.

Longlisting/Shortlisting Criteria

Qualifications as stated in the ToR

Criteria:

Points

Relevant Education MSc degree in engineering sciences, environmental protection or other related field. PhD would be considered an asset.

max 15 points 10 points allocated for MSc/MA + up to 5 points for PhD

At least seven (7) years of demonstrable relevant working experience and proven track record in technical, scientifical and socio-economic fields, in projects related to solar energy; experience from Slovak Republic would be considered an asset; Good renewable energy market knowladge, in particular experience with solar projects; knowladge of Slovak Republic renewable energy market would be considered an asset;Knowledge of the data gathering process, organization and conducting thorough identification of relevant documents related to solar energy.

max 20 points

Prior work experience with UNDP/UN Agencies

max 10 points

Knowledge of English

max 5 points - will be assessed as: 5 points for fluency and the points decrease as per the level mentioned in the CV: good - 4 points; fair/upper intermediate – 3 points; intermediate - 2 points; beginner - 1 point.

Technical Evaluation Criteria

Criteria:

Points

Rating based on Qualifications

30%

Proven experience and technical knowledge of solar project design and implementation of solar projects in EU and worldwide; experience from Slovak Republic would be considered an asset;Good tehnical knowledge of solar systems and best practices in EU and internationally; experience from Slovak Republic would be considered an asset;

30%

Brief methodology on approach and conducting the work

40%

Evaluation

Individual will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the candidate whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

  • * Technical Criteria weight-70%
  • * Financial Criteria weight- 30%

Interested candidated must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

  • Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work;
  • Provide a brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work; or sample of previous document/strategy/paper done by the consultant
  • Personal CV/P11, including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references.

Please scan all above mentioned documents and upload as one attachment only online through this website.

Note:

  • For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 65 years or more require full medical examination and statement of fitness to work to engage in the consultancy.
  • Due to large number of potential applicants, only competitively selected candidates will be contacted for remaining steps of the service procurement process.
Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: jobs.undp.org