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 102765

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 National Consultant will provide advisory and technical services for situational analysis of solar investment environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The National Consultant will render technical support to the project team and government counterparts. The National Consultant will work under the overall guidance of and direct supervision from UNDP CO project focal point.

Duties and Responsibilities

The task of the Consultant is to conduct an analysis of legal framework, authorization process (permits and licences), technical requirements for project design and implementation and present and up-coming incentive system and financing schemes for end-user investments into solar energy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially focusing on concept of prosumers.
National Consultant– Solar investment expert for situational analysis of solar investment environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina will provide services for implementation of following tasks:
Task 1: On-desk analysis, consisting of separate analysis of:
• legal and authorization framework for solar energy systems, which includes analysis of (but isn’t limited to):
o policy documents in energy sector at national, entity, cantonal and local level, with focus on determining the importance of solar energy and plan for its utilization,
o regulatory documents in energy and renewable energy sector, with specific focus on difference between commercial and residential systems,
o permits and licenses needed for solar energy projects, with specific focus on difference between commercial and residential systems,
o upcoming changes in line with EU directives,
o comparative analysis of EU and Western Balkan countries, with goal of identifying the best practices and areas for improvement;
• 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. The situation in BiH should be compared with EU and region, with goal of identifying the best practices and areas for improvement;
• financing schemes and support mechanisms for solar energy in BiH, including analysis of different types of financing (grant, credit, loan, bonds and etc) available for solar energy projects on local, national and international level, for institutions, residential and private sector, as well as incentive system currently in place in both entities (Feed-In Tariff - FIT and Feed-In Premium – FIP), and under development incentive system (revolved around auctions for renewable energy). This should be analyzed and compared to countries in EU and Western Balkan region, with specific focus on prosumers and citizens owned solar energy projects support mechanisms.
During Task 1, the consultant should conduct the above-mentioned analysis in regards 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. Key findings of analysis will be presented to and approved by UNDP Project team before implementation of Task 2.
Task 2: Field research with key stakeholders, consisting of following sub-tasks:
• Definition of key points to be addressed and questions to be answered, with the aim to fill the gaps present in the analysis, to be approved by UNDP project team
• Consultative online or face to face meetings with, but not limited to:
o At least 10 institutional representatives (Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ministry of Energy and Mining of RS, Ministry of Energy, Mining and Industry of FBiH, Fund for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency of RS, Fund for Environmental Protection of FBiH, DERK, FERK, RERS, Operator for Renewable Energy Sources and coefficient cogeneration (RES Operator) in FBiH and RS)
o At least 5 international organization/donor representatives (GIZ, USAID, World Bank, EBRD and Energy Community)
o At least 3 solar energy project owners (representing commercial large scale, medium commercial and small residential investments – with the last one being without incentives)
• Meeting with UNDP project team to provide update on findings gathered through field research.
Task 3: Development of report on situational analysis of solar investment environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina, consisting of following sub-tasks:
• Development of draft report on situational analysis of solar investment environment, draft report should be prepared and completed with end of Task 1 and 2.
• Presentation of the report on situational analysis of solar investment environment to UNDP project team and relevant stakeholders
• Collection of suggestions and comments received by UNDP project team and relevant stakeholders
• Update and finalization of report on situational analysis of solar investment environment, consisting of following structure which can be subject to change:
o Introduction: Background on assignment and info about the project
o Ground-mounted and floating large-scale solar systems (policy and regulatory framework, authorization process, project design and implementation, financing and incentive schemes, key gaps, differences compared to and best practices to be taken from EU and region)
o Medium-size commercial solar systems (policy and regulatory framework, authorization process, project design and implementation, financing and incentive schemes, key gaps, differences compared to and best practices to be taken from EU and region)
o Small residential (policy and regulatory framework, authorization process, project design and implementation, financing and incentive schemes, key gaps, differences compared to and best practices to be taken from EU and region)
Note: For small residential systems and medium-size commercial, the project will take into account 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.
o Conclusions and recommendations related to improving the solar investment environment
It is envisaged that the level of effort for these tasks will not exceed 42 expert days. 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 and 3 listed above. Written work will be supplemented by other requested consultation by phone and Teams.

Deliverables/outputs

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 five (5) years of demonstrable relevant working experience and proven track record in technical, scientifical and socio-economic fields, in projects related to solar energy;
• Management experience in project with multidisciplinary teams, as well as with a wide range of stakeholders (private, government, etc.);
• Proven experience and knowledge of incentive systems and financing modalities, where Western Balkan and Bosnia and Herzegovina market would be considered as additional asset;
• Good tehnical knowledge of solar systems, with prefered experience in implementation of solar projects in BiH;
• Good renewable energy market knowladge, in particular experience with improving the investment environment for solar projects;
• Experience in networking in the region especially in the area of clean energy transition;
• Knowledge of the data gathering process, organization and conducting thorough identification of relevant documents related to solar energy.

Languages Requirements

• Knowledge of English and local language in Bosnia and Herzegovina (excellent writing, editing and communication skills).

Longlisting/Shortlisting Criteria

Qualifications as stated in the ToR

Technical Evaluation Criteria

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