Antecedentes

Armenia as signatory to Paris Agreement has identified the priority sectors for mitigation and adaptation as part of its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions. The waste management, including agricultural waste management sector is included in the list of main contributors to GHG emissions in the country.

The agriculture waste dumped in landfills or discharged to lagoons is creating methane emissions, which is one of strongest greenhouse gases. At the same time, it is a missed opportunity since this agricultural waste can be used to produce renewable energy and/or be used as organic fertilizer.

The current environmental legislation in Armenia, although recognizing the negative impact of agricultural waste on environment, is not able to enforce the implementation of the agricultural waste environmentally safe management. The absence of positive experience and practical knowledge on modern technologies and corresponding expertise in local institutions is considered obstacle to enforce environmental legislation. During last years, number of big animal and poultry breeding, mushroom production and greenhouse farms were constructed in Armenia. The concentrated production of agricultural waste on such enterprises is creating growing concerns to the Ministry of Nature Protection. Correspondingly the impact of such farms on local environment, soil, water and air basins is creating complains by neighbouring communities.

In Armenia, the use of biogas is still undeveloped despite a high potential for the future. Armenia’s national energy target for 2020 is a 20% share of energy from renewable sources in the gross final consumption of energies. Thus, a higher use of biogas will be necessary to reach this national target. The renewable energy law regulates the implementation of renewable energy projects and guarantees they feed into the public grid. Consequently, the grid operator is obliged to purchase all the renewable generated electricity from biogas plants.

However so far, only one biogas plant was installed for producing energy and heat - the Lusakert biogas plant. It was built under the framework of the cooperation between Danish, Norwegian and Armenian companies under Kyoto Protocol CDM mechanism has faced certain problems with certification of emission reduction under CDM and thus to apply the climate finance benefits for ensuring financial sustainability.

The renewable energy development is considered as core objective under Armenia’s energy strategy, however there is not enough knowledge and engineering experience in biogas technology in the business community in Armenia, thus the potential for scaling up activities in the biogas sector was not explored.

At the same time, the technology has proven successful in EU. In particular, in the Czech Republic there is broad experience with bio-waste processing, including engineering design, local production and application for more than decades.

The objective of the study is to investigate the potential for technology transfer of the biogas producing, engineering and management expertise to Armenian farming companies, which expressed interest in transfer of Czech expertise.

Deberes y responsabilidades

1. Scope and objective of the consultancy

The consultant will provide a short-term consultancy targeted at the assessment of the feasible solutions for application of the biogas production from the agriculture waste at medium and large agricultural farms in Armenia. The practical output from the study is envisaged to be done on the example of an agricultural complex operating in Armenia and linking them with the Czech biogas engineering and producing companies.

The main outcome of the consultancy will be to facilitate Czech mitigation technology transfer to Armenia through demonstration of benefits of biogas technology application for heat, or heat and energy generation in big and medium size farming enterprises. As such, it should create linkages between Czech biogas producers and installers and Armenian farming business community

Successful transfer of Czech biogas technology will contribute to helping Armenia reach its renewable energy targets, and at the same time to reducing greenhouse gases emission.

2. Description of Responsibilities and expected outcomes

Under the supervision of the UNDP Climate Change Programme Coordinator, the IC consultant will undertake the following tasks:

  • 2.1. Analyse the potential capacity of the Armenian medium to large agricultural farms market for identification of opportunities for application of the biogas technology;
  • 2.2. Present international and particularly Czech experience to Armenian targeted audience, during the half day workshop, on biogas developments, specifics and benefits for the agriculture farming community in Armenia (the workshop will be organized by the UNDP-GEF project);
  • 2.3. Conduct a pre-feasibility study for application of biogas production on the example of one medium and/or large greenhouse farm of Armenia (including climate change funding benefits), based on corresponding links to the biogas technology expertise in the Czech Republic;
  • 2.4. Establish links and cooperation framework between biogas producing, engineering enterprises in the Czech Republic and medium and big farming enterprises in Armenia.
  • 2.5. The tasks under points 2.1; 2.3 and 2.4 must be structured in the Report following the  following outline:

i)  Brief on economic and environmental benefits for the development of biogas based on the example of Eastern European and particularly Czech example;

ii) Key regulatory drivers in EU (Czech Republic);  

iii) Potential and opportunity for application of biogas technology in medium and large agricultural farms in Armenia (the UNDP-GEF project experts will support in collection of the necessary data following the required format provided by the Consultant;

iv) pre-feasibility study of the biogas plant for one selected farm/enterprise, including technological scheme and necessary equipment for biogas power plant, analysis of investment need, income and costs.

Deliverables:

 

Deliverable

Consultancy days

1

Analysis on the potential for application and scaling up of biogas technology to medium and large agricultural farms in Armenia;

Presentation on biogas technology opportunities during half day workshop organised by the UNDP-GEF project;

12

2

Pre-feasibility study on application of biogas plant on the example of the “MAVAS GROUP” greenhouse, including corresponding links to biogas technology expertise in the Czech Republic;

8

Total

20

Important notice: All deliverables have to be quality reviewed and accepted by the UNDP Armenia CO. None of the materials produced under this Contract should be used, released and/or disseminated without prior approval by UNDP. 

The Payment will be released in one instalments based on acceptance of the deliverables by the CC Programme Coordinator and CTF regional technical adviser:

Timing and reporting:

The Consultant will be engaged on short-term basis app. 20 consultancy days within 2-month period under Individual Contract. Once hired, the consultant will get in touch with the UNDP Country Office to establish the communication and acquire information and instructions. The Expert will work under overall guidance of the UNDP Climate Change Programme Coordinator. He/she will directly report to UNDP Sustainable Growth and Development Portfolio Analyst.

Time duration and travel: The task will require 1 mission to Yerevan with duration of 5 working days.

Competencias

  • 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.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Academic Qualifications/Education:

  • Master’s Degree in Energy, Environment, Agriculture, Economics or relevant fields

Experience:

  • Minimum five years of professional experience in the area of agricultural waste and its utilization for energy in the Czech Republic;
  • Experience in elaborating biogas plant feasibility studies;
  • Knowledge of biogas plant technology application in the Czech Republic and climate related financing opportunities;
  • Experience in drafting documents such as assessments, feasibility studies, and giving presentation on the topic of energy efficiency/renewable energy technologies; agricultural waste management

Language skills:

  • Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills in English; Russian language knowledge will be an asset.

 

INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANTS WILL BE EVALUATED BASED ON THE FOLLOWING METHODOLOGY:

Candidates will be evaluated using a cumulative analysis method taking into consideration the combination of the applicants' technical qualifications,  experience and financial proposal. The contract will be awarded to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Technically responsive/compliant/acceptable to the requirements of the ToR;

Having received the highest cumulative (technical and financial) score out of below defined technical and financial criteria.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the technical evaluation would be considered for financial evaluation.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation - max. 70 points

  • Criteria A (Education - Master’s Degree in Energy, Energy, Environment, Agriculture, Economics or relevant fields) –  10 max points
  • Criteria B (Professional experience: Experience in elaborating biogas plant feasibility studies) –  20 max points
  • Criteria C (Knowledge in the biogas plant technology application in the Czech Republic and climate related financing opportunities) – max 20 points
  • Criteria D (Experience in drafting documents such as assessments, feasibility studies, and giving presentation on the topic of energy efficiency/renewable energy technologies; agricultural waste management) – 10 max points
  • Criteria E (Language skills) – 10 max points

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation - max. 30 points.
The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal. All other price proposals receive points in inverse proportion.

Note:  

*Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services). All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal.

DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION.