ESMAP Newsletter | March 2025
HIGHLIGHTS
Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) Forum
At the SEforAll Forum 2025, World Bank Vice President Ousmane Diagana reiterated the World Bank’s and its partners’ commitment under Mission 300.
An ESMAP team, led by Practice Manager Fanny Missfeldt-Ringius, presented on increasing the presence of women in the energy sector; the potential of geothermal in the Caribbean; accelerating the deployment of Distributed Renewable Energy; and unlocking clean cooking to meet the SDG7 targets.
BOARD APPROVALS
El Salvador Geothermal Energy for Sustainable and Inclusive Development Project
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved a new project on February 28, 2025, to help El Salvador increase renewable electricity generation capacity and harness geothermal heat for direct use. The project provides for improvements in several areas, including geothermal resource exploration and evaluation, the construction of a power generation plant, and social and environmental programs, as well as job generation. The identification, preparation, and analytical underpinnings of the project were supported by ESMAP.
» Read the Press Release: English | Spanish
Caribbean Efficient and Green-Energy Buildings Project
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved a new project on February 28, 2025, to improve energy efficiency and expand the use of renewable energy across three Caribbean countries: Grenada, Guyana, and Saint Lucia. The US$131.87 million project, supported by ESMAP, will partner with the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency to reduce the countries’ dependence on imported fossil fuels while focusing on reducing energy consumption in public buildings and increasing the adoption of renewable energy systems.
NEWS
ESMAP and LSMS Launch New Initiative to Measure Mission 300 Progress
Granular data on energy consumption is essential to assess progress towards Mission 300, and ultimately SDG 7: access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. To achieve this, the Living Standards Measurement Study (LSMS)—the World Bank’s flagship household survey program—has partnered with ESMAP to collect energy data through its new initiative, Resilient Futures, to support Mission 300’s success.
PUBLICATIONS
Leveraging De-Risking Instruments and International Coordination to Catalyze Investment in Clean Hydrogen
A new report, Leveraging De-Risking Instruments and International Coordination to Catalyze Investment in Clean Hydrogen, helps understand risk mitigation strategies to unlock and mobilize private capital for clean hydrogen in emerging markets and developing countries. It also highlights how de-risking instruments can address key barriers faced by investors in clean hydrogen projects. The report is a collaboration between ESMAP, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and other partners.
Safety Aspects of Hydrogen and Its Main Derivatives: A Literature Review for Policy Makers
This Livewire focuses on safety concerns associated with hydrogen and its main derivatives: ammonia and methanol. After an exhaustive review of the literature and measures on hydrogen safety, the study summarizes safety standards developed by reputable institutions.
Decarbonizing Ammonia and Nitrogen Fertilizers with Clean Hydrogen
Synthetic fertilizers are essential to sustaining the world’s population, but their production is responsible for 1.8–2.4 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. This Livewire discusses the growing potential of clean hydrogen, amid falling costs, to decarbonize fertilizer production.
Five governments’ approaches to promote solar hybrid mini grids in Africa: Which works when—and why?
This issue of Livewire highlights five governments’ approaches to promote solar hybrid mini grids in Africa: Which works when and why? Each works better in some contexts than in others; each has advantages and disadvantages. In private sector-led approaches, private developers choose mini grid sites based on their own criteria; in government-led approaches, governments conduct competitive procurements to award individual sites or zonal concessions.
» Download the Livewire: English | Spanish
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