Floating Solar Panels in Senegal: Feasibility Study for Kaffountine & Diémbéring, small coastal towns of lower Casamance.

The United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), on behalf of Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) invites qualified interested firms to submit Expression of Interest (EOI) to participate in the upcoming solicitation for the implementation of technical assistance on Floating Solar Panels in Senegal: Feasibility Study for Kaffountine & Diémbéring, small coastal towns of lower Casamance. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on behalf of the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) requires the services of an institution to deliver the technical assistance as approved by National Designated Entity from Senegal. The objective of this Technical Assistance is to promote the development of floating photovoltaic solar energy in 2 small coastal communities of Kaffountine and Diémbéring in the lower Casamance region of Senegal, by preparing a feasibility study for a 0.25 to 1 MW floating photovoltaic solar power plant integrated into the communities of women fish processors. The energy will be used to preserve fish products. Feasibility studies will focus on technical, economic, social and societal, environmental, institutional and legal issues. Senegal, with a surface area of 196,722 km², is located in West Africa and boasts over 700 km of Atlantic coastline. Its coastal communities, such as Kaffountine and Diémbéring in the Basse-Casamance region, are small (a few thousand inhabitants) and rely heavily on artisanal fishing as a way of life and economic livelihood. Agriculture (rice, cashew nuts and market gardening) and ecotourism are also key activities. Natural resources include abundant fisheries, fertile soils and coastal biodiversity. The Basse-Casamance region in southern Senegal has always been less developed in terms of energy infrastructure than other parts of the country, due to its relative geographical isolation (separated from the rest of Senegal by the Gambia). In this context, the predominant energy sources are: - Traditional biomass (firewood and charcoal): this is the source most used by rural households, particularly for cooking. It poses deforestation and public health problems. - Butane gas: This is beginning to develop as an alternative to charcoal, encouraged by the government. - Grid electricity: This is available in urban centers such as Ziguinchor but has limited coverage in rural areas such as Kaffountine or Diémbéring, where there is still a reliance on costly diesel generators. Some of the expected outputs are: 1. Mandatory Output: Project Management. 2. Stakeholder mapping and creation of a steering committee. 3. Estimating the preliminary potential of floating solar energy in the Lower Casamance coastal region. 4. Technical analysis of available technology options for selected zones. 5. Economic and financial feasibility analysis with particular emphasis on the needs of small communities and energy resilience. 6. Social and societal impact study and roadmap. The complete details of the requirement will be provided in the tender documents that will be issued to bidders after this request for EOI is closed. Specific Requirements/Information The Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) is the Operational arm of The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and hosted by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The mission of the CTCN is to promote accelerated development and transfer of climate technologies at the request of developing countries for energy-efficient, low-carbon and climate-resilient development. CTCN provides technical assistance to the countries using its own funds ( which it recives through voluntary contributions of donor) or through the other funding sources specifically the Green Climate Funds (GCF) through the Readiness Programme. The requests for Technical Assistance (TA) are submitted to the CTCN by the National Designated Entity (NDE) of the respective country. In this present case the CTCN has developed a response plan and expect to implement the technical assistance on its own funding. In case you are not a CTCN network member yet, you may apply for this REOI and subsequent soliciation (Request for Proposal), subject to the condition that you submit your completed application for CTCN membership before the proposal submission closing date, which will be communicated in the subsequent Request for Proposal in due course of time. Furthermore, the contract award – should your proposal be selected – is conditional to your application for CTCN network membership being approved by CTCN management. The requirement to join the CTCN network is only relevant to the main bidder and not subcontractors. Please find more information to join CTCN Network at- https://www.ctc-n.org/network The purpose of this REOI is to identify suitable firms who may be invited for the Request for Proposal after the REOI is closed. In addition to CTCN registration, all applicants should also be registered (free of charge) at United Nations Global Marketplace (www.ungm.org). IMPORTANT: Please note that this REOI is not an invitation for submission of tenders. Its purpose is to identify companies that would be interested and eligible to participate in the solicitation when issued. UNON will examine the outcome of this request for EOI and will consider those companies that have expressed their interest . UNON reserves the right to change or cancel the requirement at any time during the EOI and/or solicitation process. Thus, submitting a reply to this Request for EOI does not automatically guarantee your company will be considered for receipt of the solicitation when issued.