Tips for Success: Shared Best Practices and Learning

Focus Country: Philippines

Traditional and innovative policy instruments and financing modalities in support of Low Emission Development Strategies (LEDS) are key factors in creating an enabling environment for increased investments on renewable energy. Towards this end, USAID Building Low Emission Alternatives to Develop Economic Resilience and Sustainability Project (B-LEADERS) aims to enhance the capacity of the Philippine Government and its key partners on LEDS and to accelerate the growth of clean energy investments in the country.

The Department of Energy (DOE) and B-LEADERS launched the Energy Virtual One Shared System (EVOSS) in 2015, a virtual platform that harmonizes the procedures in Renewable Energy (RE) development applications, therefore effectively cutting down processing time and transactions costs. On the other hand, the One-Stop Facilitation and Monitoring Center (OSFMC), puts emphasis on the need for affordable, reliable, and clean energy supply in the Mindanao region, southern Philippines. B-LEADERS supported the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) in the development of OSFMC which oversees the fast-tracking of RE development applications in the region.

Renewable Energy Financial Toolkit by B-LEADERS aims to guide RE developers by providing basic financial indicators for considerations in their planning and decision-making processes.

B-LEADERS Mentoring Portfolio offers directions to RE developers in the Philippines on the dynamics of RE industry in the country including securing permits and funding. The B-LEADERS Mentoring Portfolio was designed for the Philippines according to the country’s unique

Developing and Using Policy Instruments to Mitigate Risk and Mobilize Investments

implementation of its feed-in tariff (FiT). The FiT in the Philippines employs a “first commissioned, first served” policy which seems to favor big corporations with financial means to pursue the construction of a power project until its completion. Hence, the mentoring portfolio aims to level-off the playing field to help start-ups and new developers in the renewable energy industry to navigate the system of obtaining business permits, finding a lending bank, and securing equity funding, to name a few.

Tools

1. Energy Virtual One Shared System (EVOSS)

What does the tool offer? EVOSS aims to facilitate and streamline business processes and cut down transaction costs through harmonization of steps and procedures in RE project applications.

Target users: EVOSS is a user-friendly platform which RE developers and participating government partner agencies in the Philippines can access. However, EVOSS can also be used by the general public as an information sharing platform for renewable energy projects.

How to Access the Tool? �� Go to http://www.evoss.ph �� Click Register. Key in desired credentials.�� Administrator needs to approve your account

and add you as a Developer.

Key Outcomes: EVOSS is a virtual processing system which allows developers to monitor and check the status of their renewable energy project applications. Through EVOSS, one can

also access information on awarded RE projects, RE application processes and requirements, mandatory fees, downloadable files, FAQs, videos, among others.

Snapshot of Energy Virtual One Shared System (EVOSS) Webpage

2. Renewable Energy Toolkit

What does the tool offer? The Renewable Energy Toolkit is designed to provide basic financial indicators critical to decision making before grounding renewable energy projects. These include expected rate of return on investment, post-tax proceeds, and estimated payback period for the investment.

Target users: The toolkit can be used by government energy planners as well as private renewable energy developers.

How to Access the Tool? Please contact USAID B-LEADERS Chief of Party, Ms. Divina Chingcuanco <dmbchingcuanco@b-leaders.ph> for further information.

Data Inputs: The toolkit requires basic information such as company name and renewable energy technology being deployed. It will also require certain technical data parameters in order to make a sound assessment of financial outcomes.

Key Outcomes: The toolkit is a decision-making aide for potential developers and planners to determine the feasibility of a planned renewable energy project.

Contributors:

USAID B-LEADERS

The USAID Building Low Emission Alternatives to Develop Economic Resilience and Sustainability (B-LEADERS) Project had set its goal to enhance the capacity of the Government of the Philippines and its key partners to plan, design and implement low emission development strategies (LEDS) contributing to the formulation of Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) in the power, transport, and land use sectors. B-LEADERS will also complement the ultimate goal of transformative economic growth with a primary focus on sustainable management of resources and reduction of emissions. To achieve this goal, the project implements two complementary activities: (1) In-country capacity building on low emission development through the provision of technical assistance to institutionalize the GHG Inventory and to improve its data collection, transparency, consistency, accessibility, comparability and comprehensiveness; and (2) Increased investment in clean energy by sustaining USAID’s mentoring program, which enables project developers and investors to package and finance viable clean energy projects. B-LEADERS project is being implemented by Engility/International Resources Group. The project started its implementation in February 2014 and will continue until January 2018.

The Asia LEDS Partnership is a voluntary regional network that supports peer-to-peer learning, knowledge sharing, and improved coordination and cooperation among organizations and individuals working to achieve transformative, sustainable economic growth across Asia.

Launched in September 2012, our network now includes over 150 member organizations and over 250 individual members from the public, private, and nongovernmental sectors active in designing, promoting, and/or implementing LEDS in Asia. We are one of three regional platforms of the LEDS Global Partnership. More information is available at www.asialeds.org.