Sustainable Energy & Climate Change
The world’s economy is now living out the end of its oil-addiction with profound consequences and increasing debate as to how we secure our future energy needs. Thus energy security, in its widest sense, will be at the heart of every country’s priorities. New Frontier Services is developing an increasing specialisation in the energy field, and during the past few years has worked with leading EU and International clients and programmes on sustainable energy issues, including the EC’s Intelligent Energy Europe Programme, the EU’s flagship climate change adaptation initiative Covenant of Mayors, the Africa-EU Energy Partnership, and the ACP-EU Energy Facility, the EC’s flagship energy access programme for promoting sustainable energy access in partner countries in the ACP region.
Examples of our recent work
Three quarters of Vanuatu’s 47,000 households live in rural areas, where only one in six rural homes, less than half of the schools (42%), only one in four health facilities and very few businesses have some self-generated electricity. At 17%, rural household electrification in Vanuatu is among the lowest in the world and reveals a significant 'energy poverty' challenge. The study 'Private-Public Partnership (PPP) for access to renewable energy in rural areas of Vanuatu' was launched by the Bizclim programme following a request from the Vanuatu Government to the BizClim Facility for technical assistance in this area. The study aimed at defining a PPP framework for enabling rural tourism operators to access renewable energy. The project has targeted achieving four key results, including the development of a 3-pronged PPP model to provide support for different levels of energy access.
New Frontier Services, in partnership with EPRD, conducted a review of 10 years of EC support to the energy sector in partner countries across the globe. The EU Energy Initiative for Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Development (EUEI) was launched in 2002 and is the EU’s global framework for dialogue and partnerships with developing countries to meet the challenge of ensuring developing countries have access to modern and affordable energy services. The EUEI strives to end limited energy services access as well as heavy reliance on traditional biomass which are two trademarks of poverty in developing countries. The initiative also contributes to the mitigation of climate change and supports sustainable inclusive growth.
NFS staff were appointed as part of a team to provide the European Commission with a forward looking analysis and strategy on Africa's energy security and to identify areas where Africa and Europe can work together to improve Africa's energy security. The study’s intent was to serve as a tool for the Commission and its partners in the further implementation of the Africa-EU Energy Partnership. The work involved addressing Africa's energy security situation and suggesting what the EU can do within the framework of the Africa-EU Energy Partnership. The analysis/strategy included issues such as Africa's current energy balance, including energy sources, conversion, transmission, distribution and end uses, access levels to energy services, and Africa's energy trade with other countries, such as USA, European countries, China and India.
NFS was selected with a number of other leading service providers for the operation and further development of the ManagEnergy initiative, the EU tool to support energy efficiency and renewable energy policies at local level, during a two-year period. NFS was responsible for co-ordination of the development of a programme of 20 capacity development workshops, of which NFS delivered 8 workshops related to the financing of local energy investments, covering such areas as Energy performance contracting, public-private partnership schemes, risk sharing, EU cohesion instruments, municipal revolving funds, and debt financing and equity financing. A key target was supporting member cities of the flagship new EU initiative for cities to combat climate change (Covenant of Mayors) to development capacity building for cities and local energy agencies on key areas such as developing and implementing sustainable energy plans and financing renewable energy projects. A significant part of the focus was on financing for energy efficiency in public buildings stock. Activities were undertaken in: EU-27 (including Belgium, Bulgaria, Romania, Baltic States Spain)
New Frontier provided management services to the consortium that was providing a range of support services to the ManagEnergy Programme, one of the EC’s largest energy efficiency programmes. These support services targeted local and regional energy actors, predominantly the ManagEnergy local and regional energy agencies, of which there are around 400, located across Europe. These services included:
      • Sectoral advice facility, that provided short-term technical assistance to energy agency requests in areas such as photovoltaic noise barriers, energy-efficiency display house, biomass and biofuels, energy efficiency in buildings, energy efficiency in street lighting, and wind energy best practices

      • ManagEnergy training workshops for directors of local energy agencies

      • Good practice identification

NFS developed GP Profiles and Resource Tools (including a simple Communications Resource Guide) to help directors of local energy agencies develop their management practices and learn from other agency good experience. Part of the work programme Included development of success story profiles. The work has involved an experience sharing workshop at EUSEW 2009. Good practices cover innovations in how local energy agencies communicate with their key stakeholder target audiences and how they optimise their influence.
New Frontier Services provided a staff member for the study on Enabling Increased Energy Investments in Africa. The promotion of EU energy policies abroad, particularly sustainable energy options in partner countries and regions by supporting policy development and through innovative funding mechanisms is a priority of the EC’s “Thematic Strategy for the Environment and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources, including Energy (ENRTP)” from 2007-2010. Therefore, the objective of the study is to provide policy advice for increasing sustainable energy investments in Africa, be it through innovative financing mechanisms, engagement with the private sector, or by private public partnerships.
New Frontier Services staff were appointed to lead the first Structural Funds ex-ante evaluation of the 2007-2013 programming period. This ex-ante evaluation of the Bulgarian Competitiveness OP included management of the evaluation of the energy component of the Operational Programme.