Key features

Energy Access and Emissions Reductions

The Energy+ Partnership aims to increase access to sustainable energy and decrease or avoid greenhouse gas emissions. Increased use of renewable energy (RE) and improved energy efficiency (EE) are tools to deliver this. The plus in the name signifies the intention to scale up these efforts.

International Partnership

The Energy+ Partnership aims to support international action to increase access to sustainable energy services and avoid greenhouse gas emissions. The Partnership is open to all parties contributing towards the goals of the Guiding Principles.

Key features of the initiative

1)  Sector-wide approach

Energy+ builds on the premise of a sector-wide approach, as opposed to a project-by-project approach. A sector-wide approach is a core feature in the intention to scale up efforts to achieve energy access and reduced or avoided emissions.

2) Payment by results

National goals for access and energy efficiency need to be supported by specific plans, realistic targets and systematic monitoring. A performance-based system will be developed and over time support will be provided based on verifiable progress on increased energy access and reduced or avoided greenhouse gas emissions, as well as implementation of policy and measures. This in turn can open up for funding from climate finance as a longer term objective.

3) Leverage Commercial Investment

To provide universal energy access, there is need for substantial investments in renewable energy services. Through strategic use of Official Development Assistance (ODA), it is possible to facilitate commercial investments and realize renewable energy potential.

Implementation phases of the Energy+ approach

The Energy+ Partnership will enter into dialogue with committed developing country partners. The Energy+ approach will be implemented in three phases flexibly applied to develop an enabling environment for energy-related initiatives:

1. In phase one, readiness, Energy+ will support development of low-carbon and energy sector strategies, establish reference levels, and strengthen technical and institutional capacity to support commercial investment.
2. In phase two, implementation, Energy+ will continue to support capacity-building, implementation of policy and legal reforms and promote regulatory regimes that provide incentives for commercial investments.
3. In phase three, scaling up, Energy+ will support results-based payment systems in developing partner countries. This will be based on results in achieved in terms of increased access to sustainable energy and use of renewable energy, relative to the reference level established in phase one. 

UN SE4All initiative

Energy+ supports the UN Secretary-General’s goals under the Sustainable Energy For All (SE4All) initiative which aims to ensure universal access to energy, double the share of renewable energy and double energy efficiency improvement by 2030. 

“Green Climate Fund Ready”

The use of results-based approaches can contribute towards making the energy sector in partner developing countries “Green Climate Fund-Ready” and will help inform the design of the Green Climate Fund.