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Press Release
New York, 21 May 2015
Latest SE4All Initiative to encompass Bioenergy
NEW YORK, 19 May 2015 - The Sustainable Bioenergy High-Impact Opportunity (HIO) was launched today
at the 2nd UN SE4All Forum to facilitate the development and deployment of sustainable bioenergy solutions.
On that occasion, Partners for Euro-African Green Energy (PANGEA) and the Alliance for Rural Electrification
(ARE) presented lessons learnt by their members on how to effectively implement innovative models that
utilise bioenergy technologies for electrification purposes through their latest information paper. The paper
looks at inclusive business models, value addition and provides policy makers with policy recommendations
to encourage the uptake of biomass as part of decentralised energy production.
Meghan Sapp, Executive Secretary, PANGEA: “Sustainable bioenergy provides a major opportunity for
distributed energy in developing as well as developed companies, helping to reduce expensive storage costs
typically encountered in off-grid systems, making them more efficient, stable and affordable. What’s more,
using waste and residues as a power source can provide added value to agriculture and more closely integrate
farmers into the distributed energy space”.
The information paper is a product of a collaboration between ARE and PANGEA. Due to the sheer
abundance of biomass often available in developing countries, this paper aims to encourage interested
stakeholders from the public and private sector to make use of lessons learnt and to combine them with
innovative models to utilise bioenergy technologies for electrification purposes in areas where there is no
conflict with nutrition and linked issues.
In addition, the paper shows the added value of available technology solutions based on various types of
clean bioenergies and appropriate ways to implement them for the benefit of electrification for rural
communities in the developing world. It looks at modern uses for solid biomass, liquid biofuels and biogas
along with practical examples and best practices of the various bioenergy-based business models currently
being implemented for rural energy access as well as opportunities for further expansion.
Gerard Ostheimer, Global Lead, Sustainable Bioenergy UN SE4All Initiative: “Power from sustainably
produced biomass can contribute in meaningful ways to increasing the energy access essential for rural
economic development. The ARE-PANGEA report highlights nicely the potential for biopower production in
different ecological and developmental contexts.”
Marcus Wiemann, Executive Director, ARE: “When thinking about the use of bioenergy in developing
countries, it is important to know that to utilise this important sustainable energy resource is a great opportunity
to create long-term partnerships, local income generation possibilities and business cycles.”
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For further information or request images please contact:
Ling Ng
Communications and Marketing Officer
+32 2 709 55 42
l.ng@ruralelec.org
Alliance for Rural Electrification
Rue d’ Arlon 69-71 - 1040 Brussels - Belgium
Tel: +32 2 709 55 42
www.ruralelec.org
Note to the editor
The Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) is an international business association representing
the decentralised energy sector working towards the integration of renewables into rural electrification markets
in developing and emerging countries. We enable improved energy access through business development
support for more than 90 members along the whole value chain for off-grid technologies.
Partners for Euro-African Green Energy (PANGEA) is a non-profit membership association that promotes
sustainable African bioenergy production, investment and policies. PANGEA engages with governments,
provides a network for the industry, and shares knowledge on best practices in both the EU and Africa. Its
members produce, blend, trade, research and support the development of sustainable bioenergy in Africa and
beyond.
The Sustainable Bioenergy High-Impact Opportunity (HIO) is a partnership of likeminded stakeholders that
will facilitate the development and deployment of sustainable bioenergy solutions to aid SE4All in reaching its
goals of universal energy access and doubling the use of renewable energy. This will be achieved by
increasing the amount of sustainable bioenergy in use in key sectors and industries where environmental and
socio-economic benefits are greatest.
Alliance for Rural Electrification
Rue d’ Arlon 69-71 - 1040 Brussels - Belgium
Tel: +32 2 709 55 42
www.ruralelec.org