Background

The main objective of Biomass Energy 2022 (Phase II) is to expand and upscale viable models and partnerships to address the remaining gaps and transform the biomass energy market in Sri Lanka, as a fuel that can be considered as a clean energy source for homes and industry. As per the Marginal Abatement Cost Curve developed for various end use energy technologies in Sri Lanka biomass energy technologies were among the leading options that were the low-cost options that bring in net cost savings with reduction in emissions to achieve Sri Lanka’s energy sector NDC targets. However, the biomass energy sector has been operating on an informal level with minimal coordination and standards for sustainability. Wider adoption of biomass fuels in small and medium industries, government institutions and even households in the country currently dependent on fossil fuel for thermal energy needs is held back due to awareness on clean and modern technologies, cost benefit and availability of market-ready biomass fuel. To drive the sector towards sustainable supply the project aims to promote the use of waste stream sources from the agricultural sector, timber industry etc to produce biomass energy products like pellets, briquettes, grass bales etc.

Biomass energy products from waste sources like briquettes, pellets etc are believed to offer an alternative fuel which is clean and environmentally friendly. The briquette and pellet sector is dominated by sole proprietors and limited companies where several sources of biomass are used to produce them mainly from sawdust and rice husks amongst others. There are however a lot of challenges in this sector;

  1. No comprehensive studies have been undertaken to accurately to estimate the volume of unused agricultural waste and other waste streams in Sri Lanka that can be used to produce biomass energy products. Data is available for researchers to work backwards from crop production volume records estimating the amount of non-crop organic matter produced for a certain type of crop, based on agricultural statistics (e.g. maize stocks and cobs for a certain tonnage of maize seed). However, competing uses and weight losses from processing (e.g. drying, carbonization) need to be considered to accurately estimate the amount of feedstock available in the country, and the true cost and supply characteristics.
  2. Lack of knowledge on technologies that would effectively ensure consistency in production both in quality and quantities
  3. Lack of demonstrated viable business for producing a biomass energy products from waste streams (e.g. pellets, briquettes, bundled grass etc) which is suitable for domestic, commercial and industrial consumption.
  4. Lack of adequate institutional and legal frameworks that help implement the laws in place and promote the clean and renewable energy sources. In the case of biomass energy products from waste streams there are no regulations or standards developed to guide the production and the quality of such products.

The sector is experiencing challenges, and much should be done to make it prosper as it’s the significant contributor to future impacts of climate change that is caused by environmental pollution. There is thus great need to promote sustainable forms of energy, which includes but not limited to briquette and pellet use.

 

Scope and Objectives

Purpose of this consultancy is to carry out a detailed study to: identify and quantify potential waste stream sources that are suitable for production of biomass energy products, identify the appropriate technologies to process the waste streams to biomass energy, review the legal framework related to the biomass energy product and carryout an analysis of the supply chain.

 

 

Duties and Responsibilities

  1. Under the overall supervision of the Team Leader, Integrated Knowledge Management, the consultant will be directly responsible to the National Project Director and at the Project Management Unit and reporting to Project Manager seeking approval/acceptance of outputs listed below under “Expected Outputs/Deliverables”
  2. The PMU expects the Consultant to report progress of each output bi-weekly at the PMU Progress reviewing meetings.
  3. The Consultant is expected to closely liaise and collaborate with relevant project stakeholders in the course of performing the work (e.g., SLSEA, Ministry of Power, Energy and Business Development, Ministry of Industries, Ministry of Agriculture, BOI, CEA, Private sector industries, local government authorities, etc.)

 

The consultant’s duty station/location during the contract will be Colombo based with extensive field works in pursuit of other relevant activities, especially where traveling will be required. The contractor will be required to report for the progress review meetings and any other meetings related to this assignment convened by the PMU even if intermittent

 

EXPECTED OUTPUTS/DELIVERABLES

Output 1: Inventory of raw materials from waste streams that can be used for making biomass energy

Develop an inventory of raw materials from waste streams for use in the making of biomass energy products from the agricultural sector and other relevant sectors; this activity will include review and analysis of the relevant secondary data and statistics available, interviews with relevant officials. It will entail an assessment of

  1. The scale of the available waste streams on a district or divisional level including the time and place of availability;
  2. The impacts on the environment of a business-as-usual scenario; and
  3. The opportunities to change this scenario through investment in biomass energy production.
  4. Characterization and selection of the raw materials; detailed characterizing of the identified available raw material. This would be used in the selection of the best type of raw material that is suitable/ viable for biomass energy products (e.g. briquette, pellet, grass bales etc)

 

Deliverable 1:

Report of the inventory of raw material that can be used for making biomass energy products. This report should include characterization of the raw materials and a recommendation of the most viable type of raw material(s) idea for the biomass energy products

Expected date for Deliverable 1: 30th January 2020

Output 2: Identification of appropriate technology for the relevant biomass energy products

Description, analysis, and comparison of the environmental sound available technologies suitable for processing the waste streams to biomass energy.

Creation of an inventory identifying and detailing the most relevant strategic technologies that would be suitable for the identified raw materials. For each technology option selected, the following will be detailed:

  1. The definition of the technology;
  2. The description of the technology;
  3. Equipment and technical expertise needed for their operation
  4. Financial costs estimation and needs;
  5. The institutional and organizational capacities required;
  6. Actors hindering its implementation
  7. The factors favoring its implementation; and Including an analysis of their merits and demerits
  8. A case study from Sri Lanka and other countries

 

Deliverable 2:

A report on the identified technologies suitable for processing the identified waste stream to biomass energy products including all analysis and findings

Expected date for Deliverable 2: 27th March 2020

 

Output 3: Development of a training manual.

Production of a training manual The training manual should comprise of simple illustrative diagrams, pictorials, practical layouts, manufacturing guidelines, machine use instructions, operation and maintenance, as well as carbon footprint reduction approaches at production level.

The manual will also include guidance on site selection; construction and layout of structural buildings; sourcing, pre-processing and blending of raw material inputs; drying; quality assurance/ testing; storage, packaging and final marketing of the products, beneficiary identification, environmental benefits, socio economic benefits etc.

 

Deliverable 3:

A training manual on identified biomass energy products

Expected date for Deliverable 3: 30th April 2020

 

Output 4: Review of legal frameworks related to the biomass energy products in Sri Lanka

Desk review of the existing policy and regulatory frameworks as well as governance structures related to briquettes production, identify gaps and opportunities that can be recommended to encourage investment and/or uptake of these biomass energy products.

 

Deliverable 4:

A report on policy and legal frameworks analysis including identification of gap and opportunities; Recommendation to be considered harmonize the regulatory frameworks to spur growth in biomass energy products from waste streams

Expected date for Deliverable 4: 30th May 2020

 

Output 5: Analysis of the supply chain of the biomass energy product

5.1 Assessment of the existing production chain of the biomass energy product. This will give an overview of material availability, quality, standardization and market price estimation, energy costs and wood fuels price estimations, transport costs estimations for raw materials and briquettes. This activity will also include an analysis for the demand for wood fuels that can be substituted with the biomass energy products

5.2 Identification of scenarios for biomass energy product value chains. This will include to evaluate costs of the proposed scenarios and to compare production costs with the price of firewood. This will lead to the development of a suitable business model for the roll out of production business of biomass energy products.

 

Deliverable 5:

5.1: A baseline report on the existing biomass energy product value chains

 5.2: A report detailing scenarios for biomass energy product value chain

Expected date for Deliverable 5.1 and 5.2: 28th June 2020

 

Timeframe

  • The envisaged time frame of the consultancy is for 7 months
  • The PMU will require five days to review the outputs delivered by the consultant

 

Competencies

The prospective consultant should, as a minimum, have the following competencies and qualifications;

1.Technical

  • Demonstrated experience in the energy sector project/ programme developments.
  • Strong understanding in operations of bioenergy technologies, supply chains, their financial and economic impacts and a good background knowledge on the energy industry in Sri Lanka.
  • Strong understanding about global and national climate change and environmental issues

 

2. Partnerships

  • Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior members of national and private sector institutions
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
  • Excellent written communication skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize relevant collected data and findings for the preparation of quality analysis for the development of the report.
  • Excellent coordination skills and result oriented collaboration with personnel with different age groups, educational levels, backgrounds – especially for this case, the players in the biomass industry
  • Excellent communication (both oral and written) and partnership building skills with multi-dimension partners

 

3. Results

  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP.
  • Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback.
  • Good team player who has ability to maintain good relationships.

 

Required Skills and Experience

Education

  • Master’s Degree or higher in Engineering, Energy Technology, Energy Economics or related field

 

Experience

  • Minimum of 10 years of demonstrable experience in the energy industry, policy development related to renewable energy options (especially related to biomass energy), institutional analysis and process improvements for better results

 

Languages/ Other

 

  • Excellent English language skills, working knowledge in Sinhala/ Tamil

 

HOW TO APPLY

To apply please access UNDP Jobs site http://jobs.undp.org

 

The application should contain:

  • Cover letter (1 page) explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for this Terms of Reference.
  • Updated CV to include qualifications/competencies and relevant past experience in similar projects and contact details of 2 professional referees who can certify your competencies, professionalism, quality of writing, presentation and overall suitability to this TOR (max 3 pages).
  • Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a combination of factors including cover letter, the credentials on offer and brief interview (optional) and the offer which gives the best value for money for the UNDP.
  • Please send the Financial Proposal separately to the following e-mail address: consultants.lk@undp.org stating the vacancy number/position in the subject line. Do not submit your financial proposal with your CV and/or cover letter to http://jobs.undp.org

 

 

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL  

All Inclusive Lump Sum Fee: LKR

Or

All Inclusive Daily Fee: LKR

Amount in words: LKR

 

Note: Payments will be based on invoices on achievement of agreed milestones i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR and certification of acceptance by the UNDP. The applicant must factor in all possible costs in his/her “All Inclusive Lump Sum Fee” including his/her consultancy and professional fee, travel, honorarium, board and lodging, and any other foreseeable costs in this exercise. No costs other than what has been indicated in the financial proposal will be paid or reimbursed to the consultant. UNDP will only pay for any unplanned travel outside of this TOR and Duty Station on actual basis and on submission of original bills/invoices and on prior agreement with UNDP officials. Daily perdiums and costs for accommodation/meals/incidental expenses for such travel shall not exceed established local UNDP DSA rates.

 

For an Individual Contractor who is 65 years of age or older, and on an assignment requiring travel, be it for the purpose of arriving at the duty station or as an integral duty required travel under the TOR, a full medical examination and statement of fitness to work must be provided.  Such medical examination costs must be factored in to the financial proposal above. Medical examination is not a requirement for individuals on RLA contracts. 

 

PAYMENT FOR SERVICES

Payments will be based on milestones certified by the Project Management Unit.

 

The National Consultant shall receive payments in according to the following installments from UNDP:

  1. Submission of Deliverable 1 in Section D by 30th January 2020 - 15 %
  2. Submission of Deliverable 2 in Section D by 27th March 2020 - 20 %
  3. Submission of Deliverable 3 in Section D by 30th April 2020 - 20 %
  4. Submission of Deliverable 4 in Section D by 30th May 2020 - 15 %
  5. Submission of Deliverable 5.1 and 5.2 in Section D by 28th June 2020 - 30 %

 

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.