Overview of Measures to Promote New Market Opportunities for Private Service Providers (Control Offices and Engineering Firms) in the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Sectors (RE/EE)

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The organizational principles of energy systems in the MENA region differ enormously: some countries have undergone a process of liberalization in the course of the past decades and opened the way for private producers and distributors of electricity and fuels (although the thrust, pace, and scope of this opening varies widely from one country – and from one sector – to the other); while in others, the state continues to dominate the energy sector not only as a regulator and arbiter, but also as a producer and distributor. This leaves little room for private providers, although it is generally acknowledged that they help to boost the competitiveness and development of the sector, and create new jobs and local value on this basis.

The project therefore works in its focus countries in close consultation with its main partners towards a targeted strengthening of private energy providers solutions, which could take over certain tasks and functions which the state is no longer able or willing to assume.

Most of the work in this area is taking place in Tunisia, where the project is cooperating with its main partners and other GIZ projects to lift a number of hurdles which are currently still slowing down the deployment of PV, and could even jeopardize the future success of this new market. The technical clearance of new RE plants is such a key issue. So far, the state utility STEG has voluntarily assumed this task, but is increasingly overwhelmed by the large quantities of new small PV plants, due to the complexity of the procedures and a shortage of qualified in-house staff. This results in delays which can easily take several months, and which constitute a heavy financial burden especially for small developers.

There is thus general agreement among the main stakeholders that this particular task should be taken over by private operators (so-called ‘control offices’ or ‘bureaux de contrôle’). As this job requires first and foremost basic (electro)technical knowhow, it is readily accessible for young university graduates with a corresponding educational background. And as these services are by definition provided in a decentralized way, they will also create new jobs in more remote regions. However, in order to safeguard the security of the system, provisions must be taken that these new operators meet the necessary quality standards.

A first study conducted in 2015 assessed the economic viability, the expected size as well as the potential job effects of this new market. It also assessed the necessary key conditions for its proper functioning, e.g. norms, standards and procedures for the approval and operation of these bureaux de contrôle, to be created by the state and to be respected by the private sector. Following a positive appraisal by the main stakeholders, the project developed together with ANME und STEG a two-year work plan which comprised another and deeper analysis of the technical and legal-regulatory conditions, as well as a pilot work program consisting of a series of capacity building measures, and of a pilot testing of the new model in a few selected districts. Following a positive evaluation by the energy ministry, private bureaux de contrôle will from this year on have the possibility to operate in the energy sector on a national scale.

In parallel, another study was conducted in this year that looked into the needs and requirements for an introduction and upgrading of private engineering firms to accompany the development and implementation of larger PV projects (whose participation is any way obligatory for MV projects). A training plan was developed in cooperation with the ANME and GIZ’s RMS project, together with a list of requirements (cahiers des charges) for the approval of firms, both of which were presented in May and approved by the ministry.

• Atelier de restitution : Analyse de faisabilité: Introduction des bureaux de contrôle dans le secteur des énergies renouvelables en Tunisie, Tunis, 18 décembre 2015

• Atelier de concertation : Cahier d’éligibilité des bureaux de contrôle pour des installations photovoltaïques raccordées au réseau, Tunis, 31 mai 2016

• Programme de formation pour les bureaux de contrôle, Tunis, 1ier groupe 21-24 mars 2017, 2ieme groupe 27-30 mars 2017

• Atelier de lancement : Phase pilote pour l’introduction des bureaux de contrôle dans le secteur des énergies renouvelables en Tunisie, 9 mai 2017
• Atelier de lancement : Etude sur l’introduction et la mise à niveau des bureaux d’études dans le secteur des énergies renouvelables en Tunisie, 4 janvier 2017
• Atelier de concertation : Etude sur l’introduction et la mise à niveau des bureaux d’études dans le secteur des énergies renouvelables en Tunisie, 3 mars 2017
• Atelier de restitution : Etude sur l’introduction et la mise à niveau des bureaux d’études dans le secteur des énergies renouvelables en Tunisie, 2 mai 2017

Reference

This article is part of the RE-ACTIVATE project. RE-ACTIVATE “Promoting Employment through Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in the MENA Region” is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).