Abt Associates, a global leader in technical assistance, program implementation and international development, seeks qualified consultants to provide technical assistance under the USAID Clean Power Asia program. The purpose of USAID Clean Power Asia is to accelerate the regional transition to high performing, low carbon power sector. The Activity will assist the governments of the Lower Mekong and other developing countries in Asia in energy planning and help establish effective policy, regulatory, and technical environment for low-emissions growth in the power sector, while simultaneously attracting public- and private-sector investment in Renewable Energy (RE) development. USAID Clean Power Asia is focused on the following resources: solar, wind, small hydro (<15 MW), and biomass residues. The program will initially focus on the four Lower Mekong countries of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam. It will also include activities on the ASEAN regional level.
Overview
The USAID Clean Power Asia program aims to scale up investment in grid-connected Renewable Energy through Integrating high renewable energy scenarios into planning, developing and implementing renewable energy zones, improving the enabling environment through policies and other incentives to promote renewable energy investment, improving the technical framework for integrating variable renewable energy into the grid, and mobilizing investment.
Competitive procurement is one of the main approaches to procure significant amounts of renewable energy as well as lower prices through lowering risk and is a central strategy of USAID Clean Power Asia. Competitive procurements have resulted in successively lower prices for RE, though there have been instances where the process was adjusted due to quality concerns. Table 1 below shows the declining prices of competitive solar procurements worldwide and Table 2 below shows the declining prices of competitive on-shore wind procurements worldwide from 2010- 2016.
Thailand’s ERC has completed a “biomass FiT” reverse auction procurement in August of this year using a first come, first served process. The lowest proposed percentage reduction from the FiT was 81%, with 4 out of the 44 applicants winning the bid. The next round of bidding, to be launched in January 2017, will be focused on solar, wind, and industrial wastewater. The ERC is seeking expertise to assist with the next competitive procurement.
USAID Clean Power Asia is planning to conduct a study of best practices and lessons learned about smart incentives and in the Lower Mekong; this analysis of Thailand’s competitive procurement will be incorporated into that study. ERC has also expressed interest in improving their process for setting FIT prices and amounts, which is currently ad hoc, unpredictable and difficult for investors/developers as the FiT price changes every year. It is not clear whether this will be included in this specific scope of work or deferred to a later date.
The results of the study will be shared at a planned regional workshop. Thailand is a leader in investment in variable renewable energy and has committed to sharing their experiences with other Lower Mekong countries and other ASEAN Member States. This task will not only assist Thailand but will help prepare them to take on that leadership role, beginning with presenting their experiences with competitive procurement (and FiTs) at the regional workshop.
Task 1 – Competitive procurement technical assistance
The consultants will provide technical assistance to the Thai Office of the Energy Regulatory Commission (OERC) as follows:
The current Thai RE strategy dictates the “merit order” of RE technologies to be procured. This study will need to fit within those requirements. The study on competitive procurement will include:
Task 1. Paper on lessons learned as background information (ASEAN, Worldwide) including reverse auctions, pay-as-bid method, uniform pricing, and real-time or 3/5/7 day duration auctions.
Task 2. Evaluate past procurements based on established criteria agreed with OERC
Task 3. Assist OERC to design the process for the next procurement planned for January 2017
Task 4. Evaluate grid capacity available to finalize the MW to be procured.
Expected Outcome – Competitive Procurement
After the competitive procurement assistance, OERC will have a competitive procurement process in which they have confidence will help them achieve the targets they are required to achieve per the Alternative Energy Development Plan (AEDP).
Timeline – Competitive Procurement
- The competitive procurement assistance will begin in November 2016 and be completed by mid-January 2017
Estimated Level of Effort – competitive procurement
The following are parameters for the types of general background of individuals most likely suited to this scope of work and the estimated level of effort. A minimum of one trip per consultant to Thailand for a minimum of 10 days.
- 20 days for Economist
- 10 days for Engineer to analyze grid capacity
Consultant Requirements – Economist
· Economist or regulatory expert with experience in designing, implementing and/or evaluating competitive procurements for grid-connected renewable energy
- A Master’s or PhD level degree in Economics
- At least ten years of experience in designing and/or implementing competitive procurements for grid-connected renewable energy
- Proven record of productive engagement with developing country government institutions
- Consulting experience with international donors or other international organizations
Consultant Requirements – Engineer
- Engineer with experience analyzing grid capacity and with an understanding of grid management practices
- A Master’s or PhD level degree in engineering
- At least ten years of experience in analyzing grid capacity to facilitate the amount of RE generation that can be procured.
- Proven record of productive engagement with developing country government institutions
- Consulting experience with international donors or other international organizations
Deliverables for Economist
- Report of best practices in competitive procurement worldwide/SE Asia – December 15, 2016
- Evaluation report on Thailand’s past competitive procurements – December 31, 2016
- Report on design of new competitive procurement process – January 15, 2017
- Economist/Expert on Competitive Procurement
Deliverables for Engineer
- Report section on grid capacity to be incorporated into the report above on the design of the new competitive procurement process.
Application Instructions
- To be considered, applicants are required to submit, via email to cparecruitment@abtassoc.com, referencing “OERC - Consultant”:
- CV/Resume
- Statement of interest explaining how his/her specific qualifications, skills, and expertise are relevant to the stated consulting position(s) and expected outcome.
- A completed and signed federal form 1420/EBD; documentation to substantiate data in the EBD is welcomed.
- A proposed timeline/Gantt chart for the work assigned to each specific consultant, indicating key tasks and deliverables for the term of the consultancy as described herein. Note that the timeframe, while immediate and short, has been set and cannot be altered.
.jpg)
