eswatini national energy efficiency strategy and …
TRANSCRIPT
DISCLAIMER This report is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID). The contents of this report are the sole responsibility of Deloitte Consulting LLP and its author, Jose Luis Bobes, and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. This report was prepared under Contract Number AID-674-C-17-00002.
ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY
EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION
PLAN
FINAL DRAFT
March 21st, 2020
MORGANA WINGARD FOR USAID
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1 | USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
ACRONYMS
Acronym Definition
AfD French Development Agency
ASHRAE American Association of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers
CEM Certified Energy Manager
DSM Demand Side Management
EC Energy Conservation
EdM Electricidade de Moçambique
EE Energy Efficiency
EEC Eswatini Electricity Company (formerly Swaziland Electricity Company)
EECP Energy Efficiency and Conservation Policy
EIF Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia
EPC Energy Performance Contract
ESERA Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority
EA Electricity Act of 2007
EC Energy Conservation
EMP Energy Master Plan
ESCO Energy Services Company
GHG Greenhouse Gas
HPS High-Pressure Sodium
NDC National Determined Contributions
KPI Key Performance Indicator
LEAP Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning System
LED Light-Emitting Diode
LPG Liquid Petroleum Gas
MoU Memorandum of Understanding
MEPS Minimum Energy Performance Standards
MWh Megawatt Hour
M&V Monitoring and Verification
MNRE Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy
USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN | 2
NDC Nationally Determined Contributions
NEESAP National Energy Efficiency Strategy and Action Plan
NEP National Energy Policy
NGO Non-governmental organization
PPA Power Purchase Agreement
RE Renewable Energy
REAESWA Renewable Energy Association of Eswatini
SACREEE SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
SADC Southern African Development Community
SEA Sustainable Energy Agency
SME Small and Medium Enterprise
ToR Terms of Reference
ToU Time of Use Tariffs
UNESWE-CSER University of Eswatini Centre for Sustainable Energy Research
VSD Variable Speed Drive
WEC World Energy Council
WTO World Trade Organization
3 | USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACRONYMS.................................................................................................................. 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................. 3
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................. 6
1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 9 1.1. Eswatini Energy Profile 9
1.2. Background of Energy efficiency in the electricity sector 10
2. ACTION PLAN .................................................................................................... 14 2.1 Approach 14
2.2 Methodology for Identifying Priority Actions 14
2.3 Baselines and Measurement Metrics 16
3. SHORT-TERM ACTIONS (2022) ...................................................................... 24 3.1 Sustainable Energy Agency 24
3.2 Recommended SEA option for eswatini 26
3.3 Minimum Energy Performance Standards Labeling 31
3.4 Financial and Fiscal Incentives 35
3.5 Time of Use Tariffs for Residential Customers 43
3.6 Training on EE technologies and Energy Auditing 44
4. MEDIUM-TERM ACTIONS (2028) .................................................................... 45 4.1 Public Sector Demonstration Projects 45
4.2 MEPS for Second Priority Appliances and Industrial Equipment 46
4.3 Agriculture Sector Time of Use Tariffs 46
4.4 ESCO Development for Municipal Public Lighting and Other Sectors 47
4.5 Adoption of Green Building Codes for Public Buildings, Private Offices, and the
Hospitality IndustrY 47
5. LONG-TERM ACTIONS (2034)......................................................................... 48
6. ONGOING ACTIVITIES .................................................................................... 48
7. POTENTIAL ENABLERS TO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROPOSED
ACTIONS .................................................................................................................... 50
8. MONITORING, EVALUATION, AND REPORTING ..................................... 51
USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN | 4
9. APPENDIX A: SELECTION OF INSTITUTIONAL DESIGN FOR A SEA .. 53 1.1. options for Eswatini: 56
10. APPENDIX B: ACTIONS RESPONSIBILITY MATRIX .................................. 58
11. APPENDIX C: STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS KEY TAKEAWAYS ............... 61
12. APPENDIX D: LIST OF STAKEHOLDERS MEETINGS ................................ 63
13. APPENDIX E: ENERGY EFFICIENCY GLOSSARY........................................ 64
14. APPENDIX F: SUGGESTED CURRICULA FOR EE TRAINING .................. 66 Sustainable Energy Training for municipal administrators 66
Saving Energy Coloring book for kids 66
Certified Energy Auditor (ASHRAE) 66
Certified RETScreen® Expert 67
Certified Energy Manager (ASHRAE) 67
15. LIST OF PARTICIPANTS NEESAP VALIDATION WORKSHOP FEB 27,
2020 .............................................................................................................................. 68
16. REFERENCES ....................................................................................................... 70
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LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Annual Electricity Consumption/Litre (kWh/Lt) Korean Refrigerators ........... 20
Figure 2: MEANING OF 400,000 MWH SAVED ................................................................ 20
Figure 3: Percentage of countries with an Energy Efficiency Agency Worldwide ........... 24
Figure 4: Percentage of countries with MEPS. Source: World Energy Council .............. 31
Figure 6: Financial vs Fiscal incentives, World Energy Council EE survey 2016 .............. 36
Figure 7: Most popular financial and fiscal incentives. Source WEC EE survey 2016...... 37
Figure 7: Lifetime cost per energy unit in R/kWh (2016) ................................................... 44
LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Eswatini at a glance .......................................................................................................................... 10
Table 4: Proposed Actions 2020-2034 ....................................................................................................... 22
Table 5: Types of SEA and their Advantages and Disadvantages ............................................... 26
Table 6: Analysis of best suited entity for a sea in Eswatini ........................................................... 29
Table 7: Potential impact of meps for refrigeration in eswatini (Fridge/Freezer) ............. 35
Table 8: Functions of a SEA and its institutional framework ........................................................ 53
Table 9: Functions of a SEA as administrator of ee programs ..................................................... 54
Table 10: Analysis of best suited entity for a sea in eswatini ......................................................... 57
USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN | 6
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This National Energy Efficiency Strategy and Action Plan (NEESAP) is a direct follow-up to the
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Policy (EECP) released in January 2019. The development of the
NEESAP is highly prioritized by the EECP to guide the implementation of energy efficiency (EE) and
energy conservation (EC) measures in all energy demand sectors. In line with the National
Development Strategy, Eswatini aims to achieve universal electricity access by 2022. Further to, this
NEESAP proposes the goal of avoiding energy consumption by 400,000 MWh per year by 2034
through the outlined energy efficiency actions.
The importance of implementing energy-efficient policies and reducing the country's energy demand
is paramount to achieving its SDGs. Pursuing improvements in local energy supply, implementation
of EE policies and behaviours, as well as the other conservation measures proposed in this report
will play a critical role in contributing to industrial productivity, the global competitiveness of goods,
reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and cross-cutting SDGs.
The actions are divided into four categories: 1) short-term to be implemented by 2022, 2) medium-
term to be implemented by 2028, 3) long-term to be implemented by 2034, and 4) on-going
activities to foster sustainability beginning in the second quarter of 2020. Each category requires
stakeholder buy-in through incentivized EE investments, energy auditing, product labelling, capacity
building, and integrated marketing communications campaigns. Indeed, the actions are designed to
create expertise and markets centred around EE for specific high-impact sectors such as
agribusiness, the government, commerce and industry, and residential electricity consumers. The
NEESAP, emphasizes actions which, when implemented, will produce results in the initial five-year
period and lay the foundation of a sustained EE program. The first-level measures taken in this
period will lead to second and third level interventions which require more time and may entail
significant financial investment but are expected to yield lasting positive impacts on the economy and
on cross-cutting issues, including gender. The identified tasks are measurable as they are not only
tied to existing baseline data but also to the Electricity Act (EA) of 2007, Swaziland Electricity
Company Act of 2007, and the Swaziland Energy Regulatory Authority Act (SERAA) of 2007.
This Action Plan focuses on electricity for three reasons: 1) Electricity generation and supply has
significant direct and pervasive impacts on Eswatini’s economy. 2) Access to electricity is essential
for raising people’s standards of living. 3) Electricity lends itself to measurement and control.
The short term recommendations for 2020 to 2022 focus on the implementation of the following
actions:
1. Explore a merger of two existing non-governmental institutions to establish an agency legally
and organizationally empowered to assume the role and functions of a Sustainable Energy
Agency. The two institutions are the Centre of Sustainable Energy Research (CSER) based at
the University of Eswatini, and the Renewable Energy Association of Swaziland (REASWA).
In their current form, neither of these bodies can quickly take on the role of a Sustainable
Energy Agency.
2. Establish MEPS for Lighting and Appliances, starting with refrigerators.
3. Design and implement financial and fiscal Incentives: e.g. Tie VAT levels to MEPS.
4. Attract Energy Efficiency financing facilities that work with existing commercial banks, like
SUNREF in South Africa, Namibia and Mauritius or similar facilities.
5. In consultation with ESERA and EEC, explore the feasibility of introducing Time of Use tariffs
for residential customers in order to reduce peak demand.
6. Conduct training of trainers on EE technologies and Energy Audits with the goal of creating a
body of certified energy auditors.
Assuming that MEPS for the main appliances: refrigerators, electric geysers and lighting were
already set up and enforced by 2022, the savings in the residential sector in year 2025 could be
7 | USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
already about 7% of the residential demand. This estimation is based on the experience in other
African countries that have implemented MEPS, mainly South Africa, but adjusted to the main
appliances used in Eswatini, which are fridges,
The savings in the industrial sector and agriculture sector (other than sugar factories) if MEPS
for electric motors would be fully implemented and enforced by 2022, could be around 6% by
year 2025. This estimation based on the assumption that around 60% of all industrial electricity
consumption is related to electric motors.
Therefore, savings from year 2025 if these short-term measures were adopted by year 2022
could be about 80,000 GWh / year
In the long term, the NEESAP estimates a reduction of 400,000 MWh by 2034 compared to the
low growth scenario estimated in the Energy Master Plan. The detailed calculations
demonstrating how we arrive at that target are explained in Section 2.3, Baselines and
Measurement Metrics.
1. Sustainable Energy Agency
An energy efficiency agency, here renamed Sustainable Energy Agency, is “a body with strong
technical skills, dedicated to implementing the national energy efficiency policies”. World-wide, such
agencies are increasingly recognised as essential to the success of energy efficiency policies.
Based on international experience, among the most important success factors for the Sustainable
Energy Agency (SEA) is its ability to attract grant funding for its programs. Therefore, essential
attributes of the agency are transparency and accountability of its structure and its governance
arrangements. It is also essential that the agency has good-calibre staff dedicated to the preparation
of proposals for grants and donor projects.
2. Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS)
A labelling program, for minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) is a proven way to achieve
significant short- and long-term impact for relatively small investments.
MEPS are used by regulators or standards bodies to check that traded products meet specified
criteria of energy performance, quality, and durability. MEPS are an effective way of encouraging
manufacturers and distributors to develop and deliver quality energy-efficient products. Because of
growing regional trade in fridges, lighting products and appliances, it makes sense for countries in
Southern Africa to adopt regional standards, regulations, and policies for MEPS.
3. Design and Implement fiscal and financial Incentives
Financial incentives include subsidies for energy audits or investments and soft loans. Fiscal incentives
include tax reduction, tax credit or accelerated depreciation, as well as tax on inefficient equipment
(appliances and cars). Financial incentives can be defined as a fixed amount, or as a percentage of the
investment (with a ceiling), or as a sum proportional to the amount of energy saved. Even moderate
financial support (e.g. a subsidy or tax rebate) can trigger investment in energy efficiency, especially if
financial benefits can be shown. Often these investments are considered secondary to investments
in production - regardless of their cost-effectiveness. This NEESAP proposes to focus on simple
fiscal incentives like graded rates of VAT based on MEPS.
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The detailed cost-benefit analysis of these measures is outside the scope of this report.
Nevertheless, the measures are often budget-neutral, collecting more from inefficient equipment and
reducing the cost of energy imports.
4. Time of Use Tariffs
Implementing a Time of Use residential tariff for high usage consumers who can move part of their
load to off-peak hours would result in energy and financial savings. High energy-intensive domestic
appliances include large refrigerators, air conditioning units, dishwashers, and pumps for swimming
pools, all of which have a degree of flexibility in time of use. Participation in the use of the ToU
should be optional but marketed as an opportunity to save money rather than a penalty. The initial
step would be to involve the utility and the regulator to investigate the technical feasibility of
implementing domestic Time of Use tariffs in the context of Eswatini.
5. Training on EE technologies and Audits
Building a local resource cadre that is knowledgeable on energy efficiency and equipped with skills to
carry out energy audits underpins the sustainability of the action plan results. The resource cadre
could be a combination of specialised private companies and staff in energy-intensive industries, like
sugar and cement factories. The first step will be to identify and train the trainers who will
disseminate the knowledge through short courses and workshops. It is expected that such a
program will drive a market for EE and create opportunities for the trained professionals to offer
energy audit services, and to support the adoption and certification of energy management norms
such as ISO 50001, including Measurement and Verification (M&V) protocols.
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1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. ESWATINI ENERGY PROFILE
Eswatini is a middle-income country with a young and growing population of approximately 1.087
million people1 and a gross domestic product of $11.6 billion2. As of 2019, the population is
dominantly rural, with urban dwellers constituting only 24 percent of the total. The country imports
all its petroleum products and about 80 percent of its electrical energy requirements. This import
dependency risks energy security. It also limits the country’s ability to determine energy prices,
which have a significant bearing on economic growth and expansion.
In 2019 Eswatini used 1268 GWh of electricity. approximately 75 percent of which was imported
from ESKOM of South Africa’s and from the Southern Africa Power Pool. The remaining 25 percent
was produced locally from hydroelectric stations, from cogeneration in factories, and from solar PV
plants.
Rural households meet their energy needs mainly from fuelwood. At the same time, Eswatini’s
electricity access rate of greater than 70 percent is high by regional standards, and the country has
set the goal of universal electrification by 20223. This aspiration for universal access greatly
influenced the formulation of this NEESAP as the residential sector will represent the largest
electricity consumer by far, in the time horizon of the Electricity Master Plan 2034.
The NEESAP focuses on the electricity sector due to the potential high EE impact over a short time
frame and energy growth, especially among residential consumers. The projections are consistent
with the Government of Eswatini goal to reach universal electrification by the year 20224. When
Eswatini reaches universal electrification, the importance of focusing on EE in the electricity sector
will be increased. Higher EE in electricity could reduce electricity imports and also reduce the cost
of producing goods and services—a benefit to the economy and to the standard of living.
1 CIA World Factbook 2 ibid 3 Kingdom of Eswatini Energy Master Plan, 2034 (2018), 4 Kingdom of Eswatini Energy Master Plan, 2034 (2018),
USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN | 10
1.2. BACKGROUND OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN THE ELECTRICITY SECTOR
In Eswatini, the system losses of the national utility, the EEC, are low, with transmission and
distribution losses at about 14 percent, and commercial losses at only two percent. In 2008 the EEC
began to install pre-paid meters for its customers5. This has resulted in a lowering of commercial
losses from 25 percent to two percent.
Nearly all of the internally-generated electricity is from hydropower and sugarcane-based co-
generation. In 2013-2014 hydropower stations supplied 302,500 MWh. The hydropower generation
is quite variable due to change in weather patterns, for instance in 2017 the hydropower station
supplied only 116,300 MWh. Cogeneration at the USL plant, contributed 44,900 MWh representing
5 EEC
TABLE 1: ESWATINI AT A GLANCE
Population 1.087 million (2018)
GDP $4.417 billion (2017 est.)
Major Industries Agriculture 6.5%
Major Industries Industry 45%
Major Industries Services 48.6%
Electrification - urban population 82.8% (2016)
Electrification - rural population 61.2% (2016)
Electricity – production 381 million kWh
Electricity – consumption 1.431 billion kWh
Electricity – imports 1.077 billion kWh
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants 20%
Electricity - from other renewable sources 41%
†= of total installed capacity Source: CIA World Factbook
11 | USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
24.9 percent of renewable and 3.7 percent of overall power generation. While the Government has
approved legislation to increase local generation of electricity, supportive regulatory frameworks are
still missing which are necessary in order to remove uncertainties and ambiguities. In particular, it is
necessary to devise light-touch regulatory framework for small generation plants.
According to the Eswatini Rapid Gap Analysis and Action Plan, national electricity access rose to 61
percent, with urban and rural households having 77 percent and 50 percent electricity access in
20136. Regionally, the distribution of electricity access varies with the Hhohho Region having the
highest electricity access at 66 percent, followed by the Manzini Region at 64 percent and Lubombo
at 63 percent, while the lowest was the Shiselweni Region at 40 percent. For lighting, 60 percent of
the citizens use electricity as a source of energy, while 30 percent use candles and 10 percent use
paraffin—the use of solar is negligible.
While agriculture contributes 10 percent of Eswatini's GDP, the sector accounts for 39 percent of
electricity production and is also one of the largest consumers categories. Agribusiness, including
sugar industry and family farms, accounted for 48 percent of energy consumption in 20147.
The Eswatini Energy Master Plan 2034 forecasts energy consumption to rise from 1,094,700 MWh in
20188 to 1,828,000 MWh in 2025. Likewise, energy demand is also expected to rise from 271 MW
to 323 MW over the same period9.
The Swaziland Energy Regulatory Authority Act sets out the regulatory framework for Demand-
Side Management by establishing time of use tariffs (ToU), mainly for industrial and irrigation
consumers. However, there are no specific incentives or penalties to support Energy Efficiency.
With neither incentives nor penalties, the potential of EE and energy conservation (EC) measures
remains untapped. For example, the current TOU tariff structure does not encourage residential
customers to reduce peak-hour usage as these end-users are locked into a fixed tariff. Household
electricity demand is among the highest of all customer categories and is projected to go even higher
with the projected rise of electricity access. In addition, some major, Agri-based industrial customers
find it difficult to benefit from the TOU tariff because of its inflexibility.
The potential for energy efficiency and energy conservation exists in all energy demand sectors and
can yield economic and societal benefits.
SADC Initiatives
When contemplating regional initiatives for potentially high impact EE, the Southern African
Development Community (SADC) is working towards establishment of minimum energy
performance standards (MEPS) labelling for lighting, appliances, and electrical motors—a practice
already adopted in South Africa. In 2018, the SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy
Efficiency (SACREEE) coordinated an Action Plan (SADC REEESAP) setting regional energy efficiency
6 MNRE and CSO, Eswatini, 2013 7 EEC 8 Eswatini Electricity Company Annual Report 2017/2018 9 EEC, 2015 & SAPP, 2014
USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN | 12
priorities. The SADC REEESAP aims to create an attainable EE policy framework and implemented
actions.
NEESAP Focus
While the EE issues Eswatini faces are similar to those found in other SADC countries, this NEESAP
identifies country-specific barriers to implementation, and the actions need to promote optimal
efficacy and sustainability. By applying EE best practices, the NEESAP will counteract:
• Lack of incentives and regulatory frameworks to maximize the opportunities for investment and
financing in energy efficiency;
• Weak EE regulatory framework including MEPS and mandatory energy auditing for large
consumers;
• Tariff Pricing issues, such as TOU for agricultural and industrial clients who have a limited ability
to shift loads;
• Limited EE capacity building programs;
• Absence of private-sector participation through Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) or
accredited EE engineers and
• Insufficient public awareness of importance and benefits of EE.
Improved EE is critical to responding to mitigating the impacts of climate change, to economic
development, and to achieving energy security in Eswatini. This NEESAP advances the national EE
and EC agenda by creating a platform for public and private stakeholder engagement. Through the
creation of the SEA, Eswatini will have the capacity to continuously improve the energy data and to
establish a monitoring and evaluation methodology by which to gauge the effect of policy
implementation and progress towards the goal of reducing usage by 400,000 MWh per year by 2034.
By setting realistic goals based on a conservative baseline of slow economic growth, working across
ministries, and actively raising public awareness, the new agency should see immediate success in EE
adaptation. To this end, each action is sector-specific, measurable against existing data, and designed
to generate sustainable change. For example, unlike other SADC countries, reaching agriculture
stakeholders in Eswatini is critical as 39 percent of final electricity production is consumed in the
agriculture sector10. Agribusiness is the primary private generator of electricity employing co-
generation from agricultural by-products.
Lack of public awareness of the cost-saving potential of EE poses a risk to the implementation of the
actions outlined in this report. The government launched several awareness campaigns with
billboards, posters, and using other traditional media outlets, but behavioural change remains
inconsequential. Thus, this NEESAP proposes an ongoing comprehensive sector-targeted integrated
marketing communications plan with educational components to foster capacity building and long-
term sustainability.
Table 2 summarises the focus of the NEESAP.
10 EEC
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Table 2: Tasks, Issues, Strategies
Task Issue Strategy Goal
Policy & Regulatory
Lack of implantation
of existing policy
framework
particularly for EE
Creation of SEA
dedicated to driving
EE with a cross-
sectoral approach
Consistent and
accurate reporting
on EE targets
Green building
codes
Institutional
Frameworks
Suboptimal energy
consumption by
residential clients
Creation of SEA to
coordinate, in
consultation with
ESERA the
development and
implementation of
time-of-use tariffs
or the inclined tariff
block structure
Define energy use
baseline and track EE
improvements
Skills Development
Low participation of
industry
associations and
academia in EE
initiatives
Add EE education
into curricula at all
levels
Create an EE centre
of excellence with
certified technical
training
Societal change to EE
behaviour
Increased requests
for energy audits
from the private and
public sectors
Capacity Building
Limited number of
certified locally
based energy
auditors
No qualified ESCOs
in the country
Training centre for
energy auditors
who can produce
energy management
systems and
measurement and
verification reports
A publicly accessible
database of certified
locally based energy
auditors, ESCOs, and
EE engineers
Financing incentives
Financing
organizations have a
limited capacity to
assess EE projects
and capture existing
EE business
opportunities
Financial incentives
for investment in or
creation of locally
based ESCOs
EE financing facility
Increased number of
locally based ESCOs
Communications
Low public buy-in
and awareness of
existing EE policy
and cost savings
programs
A comprehensive
integrated
marketing
communication
campaign
Consumer education
via targeted multi-
media
communications
outreach
USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN | 14
2. ACTION PLAN
2.1 APPROACH
Key stakeholders participated in the formulation of this Action Plan, as this is guarantee of successful
implementation. The MNRE, the lead ministry for all energy affairs, invited a wide cross-section of
stakeholders to consultative meetings on the NEESAP. The stakeholders included ESERA, the
Eswatini Tourism Authority (ETA), the EEC, the Government Departments, Eswatini Revenue
Authority, National Curriculum Centre, Eswatini Standards Authority, Renewable Energy
Association (REASWA), municipalities, educational institutions, agribusinesses, stakeholders from
various industries, and representatives from the building and construction industry players, tourism,
and banking sectors’ associations. Appendix D: LIST OF STAKEHOLDERS MEETINGS lists the
meetings held.
To achieve optimal results, the actions identified in this plan should be implemented through the
proposed Sustainable Energy Agency (SEA). The SEA’s ability to coordinate and manage inter-
ministerial programs should enhance synergies, avoid duplicated efforts, and ensure accurate
monitoring and evaluation. The plan implementation focuses on governmental framework, financial
incentives, stakeholder engagement, public awareness, and proven EE interventions.
The NEESAP is additionally informed by a review of EE programs especially in South Africa, which
leads the SADC region in advanced EE regulations, and in Morocco, a long-time front runner in RE
and EE programs11. A team composed of Africans, Europeans, and Americans, designed the proposed
actions pulling from best practices in the USA, Europe, and other middle-income countries in Africa,
Southeast Asia, and the Pacific that face or have faced similar challenges as Eswatini. Incorporating
themes and policies from the documentation provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources and
Energy (MNRE) and engagements with private and public stakeholders informed the drafting of this
NEESAP.
To address the issues identified by the government, the SADC REEESAP, and country-wide
stakeholders, we propose the high impact actions outlined in Table 3.
2.2 METHODOLOGY FOR IDENTIFYING PRIORITY ACTIONS
Through a collaborative and participatory method, the NEESAP identified high-impact EE actions.
The methodology includes reference baselines for each priority sector and the relevant monitoring
and evaluation guidelines. The primary source materials were stakeholder meetings and existing
government policy and planning documents, especially the statistical energy data from Eswatini's EMP
published in 2018. The methodology used to identify key actions such as building codes for the
public sector, tourism, agribusiness, and the associated policy suggestion are detailed herein.
Appendix C: Stakeholder Meetings key takeaways provides additional information gleaned from
meetings with stakeholders and turned into actions.
The selected high-impact actions support current policy measures, strategies, EE programs, and
action plans. Measurable targets and realistic timelines guide each of the proposed actions. This
11 Agence Marocaine pour l’Efficacité Energétique
15 | USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
NEESAP assigns the highest priority to measures deemed likely to produce the most substantial EE
gains in each sector. Strategies and targets are further delineated into short-term action (achieved
within two years), medium-term actions (achieved within eight years), long-term actions (achieved
within fourteen years), and ongoing public awareness, financing mechanisms, and capacity building
activities. The analysis outlined herein is based on data provided by the Government of Eswatini,
field interviews, and international experience.
The short-term actions focus on low-cost high-impact measures. The medium-term actions are
centred on regulatory changes requiring more resources and time, but no significant new studies or
investments. Long-term actions include regulatory changes and planning that will require substantial
investments in resources and planning. Actions classified as long-term do not negate immediate
moves towards implementation. For example, the creation of energy efficient transport measures
may take ten years to achieve, but appropriate planning efforts
should begin as soon as possible. The proposed actions range from
targeting the population as a whole to sector-specific efforts.
Energy efficient programs must be systematically implemented in the
public sector to reduce operational costs, to lower greenhouse gas
emissions, and to set an example for the industrial and agricultural
sectors. Improving the management of general lighting, i.e., not
keeping streetlights on during the day, is a high-impact, easy to
implement, and measure short-term action. Further developing the
maintenance of public infrastructure and implementing incentives for
public sector entities to be energy efficient are additional short-term
initiatives that will promote sustainable and measured EE.
Private sector participation in public sector EE investments should
be assisted by ESCO regulation that permits realistic contract
durations for energy services and maintenance. For instance, the municipalities in Eswatini, like in
other countries in SAEP are not allowed to sign maintenance contracts longer than 3 years. This
limit in contract length discourages private sector ESCO investments in municipalities as most EE
investments, need a longer payback. The ESCO business model allows the private sector to recover
the initial cost of investment in EE measures by linking measurable savings to long term contract
payments. This mechanism is especially useful for municipalities that could save significant amount of
money and energy in public lighting, but lack the budget to make the upfront capital investment in
more efficient public lighting.
Each target in this NEESAP is calculated considering the baseline information provided in the Energy
Master Plan. It is vital for energy savings monitoring to directly correlate to solid data and therefore
able to be quantified monetarily. EE service delivery objectives should be based in solid baseline data
and solid measuring and verification methodologies.
While agriculture only accounts for 10 percent of Eswatini's GDP, the sector accounts for 39
percent of final electricity production and is one of the largest consumers of energy. Agribusiness,
including sugar industry and family farms, accounted for 48 percent of energy consumption in 201412.
The National Energy Policy of 2003 advocates for measures including the provision of information
for and use of EE equipment. Several short-term measures, such as the use of timers,
computerization, and high-efficiency energy pumps could reduce energy requirements for irrigation
12 EEC
The cross-sectional coordination needed to plan and implement the proposed actions would be a challenge without a coordinating entity.
USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN | 16
and improve the competitiveness of agricultural products. Medium-term actions include ToU suited
to the needs of farmers and water tariff regulations based on resources consumed, not the current
plot size system. Long-term opportunities for EE and sustainable energy in the agriculture sector
include:
• Water pumping using solar and wind power technologies to pump potable and irrigation water
which could reduce demand from the electricity grid;
• Leveraging and optimizing the use of agricultural waste as a source of energy, i.e., biogas, co-
generation feedstock, and biofuels, as a way to reduce demand from EEC and energy imports;
• Accurate data recording, management, and power factor correction;
• Improving irrigation practices to eliminate water leaks and to promote the most efficient drip
irrigation methods such as drip irrigation and efficient centre pivots; and
• Upgrading to more energy-efficient equipment such as boilers, refrigerators, and compressors.
An ongoing multi-media campaign will make farmers aware of money-saving EE behaviours,
technology, and equipment, such as solar PV irrigation possibilities.
Building codes are national or local rules that govern the design and/or use of a building—building
codes may be voluntary or mandatory. A program promoting EE in buildings has yet to be instituted
in Eswatini. Moreover, traditional construction methods like mud bricks, which are highly energy-
efficient, are being abandoned for more modern materials with higher carbon footprints and less
insulative properties. Current regulations do not consider or promote the use of traditional
materials. In comparable African countries, like Morocco, buildings account for 25 percent of energy
usage and offer many potential opportunities for energy savings and self-generation13. Several
countries in the SADC region started addressing the building sector by adopting energy-efficient
building codes. In Namibia and South Africa, some of the green building councils are affiliated with
the World Green Building Council. Although compliance is voluntary, the councils are the driving
force in promoting EE buildings. Energy-efficient building codes are the most cost-effective tools for
reducing energy use in buildings on a long term-term basis. While in Eswatini, there is a body of
professional architects, municipalities regularly approve plans drawn by people not registered with
the governing body, which does not aid in the enforcement of existing building codes.
2.3 BASELINES AND MEASUREMENT METRICS
Using the low growth scenario of demand growth for Eswatini EMP 2034, and taking into account
the feedback from stakeholders, as well as international experience, the benchmarks against which
success will be measured are detailed in Table 3: Baselines and EE Targets 2014-2034
13 AMEE
17 | USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
Table 3: Baselines and EE Targets 2014-2034
The methodology to estimate energy demand in the EMP for the period of 2015–2034 employed the
Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning System (LEAP) software. LEAP is a tool to generate a
detailed accounting model to develop energy demand projections in a bottom-up fashion, by taking
into account energy consumers’ useful energy needs and their choice of technologies and appliances.
The model used for the assessment was initially developed in 2015 by the Ministry of Tourism and
Environmental Affairs with technical support from the Energy Research Centre of the University of
Cape Town, as part of an exercise to identify CO₂ emission mitigation options for Eswatini’s
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). The model was further reviewed and updated for the
purpose of assessing the overall energy needs used as a basis for the Energy Masterplan. Note the
updated version greatly simplified the original assessment done in 2015, specifically in regard to the
number of technology options assessed and the representation of end-use energy services. The tool
can be used to describe individual policy measures that can then be combined into alternative
scenarios. This approach allows policy makers to assess the impact on an individual policy as well as
the interactions that occur when multiple policies and measures are combined.
Building on this established method, an energy demand accounting model for Eswatini and three
demand projections were established. The increase in energy demand is driven mainly by economic
growth, population growth and the electrification rate. The model takes into account the energy
intensity of short- and long-term energy efficiency improvements. End-user prices were subjectively
overlooked, however they considered historical data on the consumption of coal, oil products,
electricity, and biomass. The intensity of energy consumption per unit of each sub-sector’s output
and the share of each energy source are projected on an econometric basis. Population dynamics are
also an important driver of energy trends and the assumptions. An increase in population increases
the number of households—a key driver of residential energy demand.
The scenarios are high growth and low growth. The reference scenario assumptions are:
• Annual GDP rate 1.8% to 3% from 2014 to 2020, and 3% from 2020 to 2034;
• 100% electrification rate by 2030; and
• Annual population growth: decrease from 1.2% to 0.8% 2034.
Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) developed five principal EE goals for Eswatini:
Amount in
GWh
Subtotal:
2014
REFERENCE
FOR MASTER
PLAN
ACTUALS
2017
PROJECTIONS 2025
MASTER PLAN and
own estimations per
sector
PROJECTIONS
2034 MASTER
PLAN
NEESAP Target
2034
SUBTOTAL
NGWH:
TOTALS 1277.77 1289.99 1944.44 2639.67 398.76 (15%)
Sugar 361.11 (28%) 195.29 544.32 (26.1) 638.95 (24.2%) 95.84 (15%)
Other
Agriculture
250.00 (20%) 285.9 388.80 (17.7) 416.66 (15.7%) 41.66 (10%)
Industry 222.22 (17%) 301.3 330.48 (15.7%) 388.89 (14.7%) 38.89 (10%)
Commerce &
Government
111.11 (9%) 116.3 175.00 (7.5%) 166.67 (6.3%) 16.67 (10%)
Residential 333.33 (26%) 391.2 505.84 (33%) 1028.50 (39.1%) 205.7 (20%)
USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN | 18
1. Attain 60,000 MWh energy saving per year by 2018;
2. Attain 180,000 MWh energy savings per year by 2025;
3. National energy efficiency policy and regulations developed by 2019;
4. 500,000 LEDs distributed to households by 2020; and
5. Design and adopt an energy efficiency appliance labelling and standards program14
However, some of the SE4ALL’s goals do not indicate a clear baseline or a relative target of MWh
related to changing scenarios of electricity demand. Therefore, it is difficult to assess the
effectiveness of the existing projects and to ascertain whether the goals are consistent with the
proposed interventions.
The goal established by SE4All for 2025 is 180,000 MWh. The SE4All target assumes that 60,000
MWh savings would have been achieved by year 2018, and by extrapolation, 100,000 MWh would be
achieved by year 2020. In the absence of an entity monitoring the results of all EE programs, it is
difficult to assess whether this number has been achieved, but this figure will be assumed
nonetheless. On the other hand, the estimations of SE4All point out that from 2020 to 2025, an
additional 80,000 MWh savings should be achieved.
Independent calculations estimate a similar target: Assuming that MEPS for the main appliances such
as refrigerators, electric geysers and lighting were already set up and enforced by 2022, the savings
in the residential sector in year 2025 could be roughly 7% of the residential demand. This estimation
is based on the experience in other African countries that have implemented MEPS, mainly South
Africa, but adjusted to the main appliances used in Eswatini, which are fridges/freezers.
The savings in the industrial sector and agriculture sector (other than sugar factories) if MEPS for
electric motors would be fully implemented and enforced by 2022 could be around 6% by year 2025.
This estimation is based on the premise that around 60% of all industrial electricity consumption is
related to electric motors.
Therefore, savings from year 2025, if these short-term measures were adopted, could be about
80,000 GWh/year.
This NEESAP estimates a reduction of 400,000 MWh by 2034 compared to the low growth scenario
estimated in the Energy Master Plan. Improvements in EE within the sugar industry alone over the
next fifteen years could easily provide a minimum of 15 percent savings compared against Business as
Usual. The estimate is based on the fact that most pumping stations do not have variable frequency
drive motors, which can save up to 60 percent of electricity15. Additionally, future improvements of
boiler and turbine efficiencies are anticipated
Another sector is agriculture. Currently, farmers do not have an incentive to optimize their water
usage as most pay a fixed quota based on plot size, not consumption. Technology, combined with
the right pricing signals and awareness initiatives, could increase the efficiency by a minimum of 30
14 Swaziland Action Agenda, SE4All, 2016 15 Experience of the consulting team with EE projects in pumping stations
19 | USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
percent. Under these assumptions, a 15 percent target is attainable. Concerning other
agribusinesses, there is a mixture of uses, but the overall awareness of EE technologies in all areas is
low, and therefore, a minimum of a10 percent savings compared to the estimated reference case
could be achieved through targeted communications outreach efforts and demonstration projects.
For other industries, commerce, and government, an estimated minimum of 10 percent is also
assumed as the awareness of existing technologies and the penetration of solar water heaters is
negligible. Interviews with industrial, commercial, and government stakeholders yielded an interest in
investing in EE technologies. However, once again, if the lack of awareness of EE technologies and
energy audits is corrected, a more significant savings than the proposed 10 percent in the reference
case estimate for 2034 may be achieved. In the region, South Africa and Namibia already
experienced drastic reductions in demand for industry and commerce due to the deployment of EE
technologies coupled with ground mounted and rooftop solar PV systems—the same actions could
be duplicated in Eswatini.
Improvements in the residential sector can provide the most substantial savings in absolute numbers
with an estimated minimum savings of 15 percent. Currently, residential clients are by most, not
aware of potential opportunities for energy efficiency, beyond lighting. As residential clients are
locked into a fixed tariff, they do not have any incentive to shift energy-intensive loads to off-peak
hours—creating additional optimization of the system. Residential customers have the most
flexibility to shift loads using appliances like washing machines at lower tariff times.
The penetration of solar water heaters and PV solar residential systems is very low, and EE product
labelling programs are not existent in Eswatini. A combination of labelling, together with the
introduction of inclining block tariffs or TOU tariffs for the residential sector could decrease
expected demand by more than the target of 15 percent.
In China, labelling programs introduced ten years ago produced more savings than generation
capacity of the Three Gorge Dam power station.16 In South Korea, introduction of a MEPS labelling
program for refrigerators increased the efficiency by 55 percent.17
16 Beyond Connections: Energy Access Redefined 17 Korean Energy Management Corporation
USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN | 20
Figure 1: Annual Electricity Consumption/Litre (kWh/Lt) Korean Refrigerators
Accounting for all proposed actions, the 2034 target of an annual reduction of 400,000 MWh is
realistic and attainable. To further elucidate the meaning of these goals, it is essential to understand
the cost of an MWh avoided through EE is less than the cost of generating an MWh. While not
currently tracked, in Eswatini, the comparison between kWh avoided and kWh generated has been
calculated for other middle-income countries with similar profiles. For example, in Namibia, the
average cost of MWh avoided using energy efficiency measures, assuming the measures work for at
least five years, is about $0.27 MWh18, while generation costs range between $0.90-1.50. Beyond
value, energy efficiency has other advantages such as increasing energy security and reducing the
volatility of costs.
Figure 2: MEANING OF 400,000 MWH SAVED
18 Source: Experience of real case projects industrial EE in Namibia SUNREF AFD program
21 | USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
Investments in energy efficiency follow the law of diminishing returns; thus, the measurable high-impact
actions proposed within this NEESAP are divided into four priorities and time lines:
• Short-term actions (implemented by 2022) create high impact results with a low
investment threshold;
• Medium-term actions (implemented by 2028) are designed to increase local capacity in
understanding and managing energy efficiency and incentivize EE investments with
profitable returns;
• Long-term actions (implemented by 2034) will require higher investments and address
SDGs with activities across multiple sectors; and
• Ongoing activities (starting in Q1 2020) are focused on the coordination of the proposed
measures, financing mechanisms, and strategic integrated marketing communications
campaigns to educate the public and ensure a high return on the other EE actions
Table 4 summarises the proposed actions categorised as above.
USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN | 22
TABLE 4: PROPOSED ACTIONS 2020-2034
ACTION TIMEFRAME
PROBLEM ACTION OUTCOME/GOAL
SHORT- TERM
No entity coordinating objectives across ministries and working with the private sector
Creating a Sustainable Energy Agency with a specific EE/RE mandate as a separate entity, or a department by merging two existing entities
Capture donor funds to commence medium- and long-term actions
Propose, enact and monitor MEPS
M&V of EE targets Successful interministerial cooperation and recognition of SEA as EE/RE leader
SHORT- TERM
No labelling on consumer electrical products and electric motors
MEPS in line with SADC guidelines for consumer products i.e. lighting, appliances and electric motors
80 per cent of all consumer electrical products carry MEPS label MEPS literacy campaign encourages consumers to purchase EE products
SHORT- TERM
Energy Efficient products are typically more expensive than lower quality products with higher inefficiencies
Create fiscal incentives by taxing less VAT or no VAT to EE products while taxing a higher percentage of VAT to inefficient products. This activity is linked to the availability of MEPS
Taxing more VAT to inefficient products and less to efficient products will benefit the economy by changing behaviour towards products that need less energy to operate and be revenue neutral or positive.
SHORT- TERM
No time-of-use tariff for residential clients
Creation of residential time-of-use tariffs or introduction of inclining block tariff
Better demand-side management of peak loads/behavioural change. Savings for the country by buying less electricity from Eskom at peak tariffs, which mostly is produced by expensive and more polluting generation technologies, like diesel peak plants.
MEDIUM-TERM No MEPS on high-end consumer and industrial products
Extension of MEPS labelling program
80 percent of extended products with MEPS and literacy campaign to include industry
MEDIUM-TERM
Current agricultural time-of-use tariff is highest when farms need to use more water and pricing is often based on hectares not on qm3 usage
Create specific time-of-use tariffs for agriculture clients in line with industry needs
Better demand-side management of agriculture customers
MEDIUM-TERM Lack of locally based ESCOs
Creation of ESCO regulations and financing
Regulation for third-party investment in ESCOs in public- and private-sector
MEDIUM-TERM Lack of locally based qualified and certified energy auditors
In-country qualification and certification program
Create EE employment and drive opportunities
MEDIUM-TERM Inadequate awareness of EE demonstration projects
Public sector demonstration projects exemplify applied best practices and cost savings
Public sector consumers reduce cost Energy auditors acquire hands on experience
23 | USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
MEDIUM-TERM Lack of efficient, mandatory, and enforceable building codes
Create mandatory green building codes
Improved energy management of buildings which will increase economic competitiveness through cost savings
LONG-TERM
Lack of EE initiatives in sectors requiring detailed and/or long-term planning as well as higher investments
MEPS for vehicles
Financial incentives for purchase of electric vehicles and RE battery charging that can be sold to the energy grid at peak points
Incentives for using public transport, walking, and riding bicycles
EE road network planning and repairs
EE transportation policy including long-term urban planning using smart grids and storage
LONG-TERM No MEPS for cook fuel (wood)
Implement MEPS for wood used as cooking fuel
Consumers will make better choices about what type of and where they buy wood
LONG-TERM Nascent LPG, NG market Convert users of wood to LPG for cooking
Decreases respiratory issues and the burden of finding wood for women and children
ONGOING
EE is not part of the curriculum of grade schools, technical colleges, or universities.
Creation of EE curriculum for all levels, pre-kindergarten through university or trade school
Early childhood EE edutainment will influence household behaviour and build life-long EE behaviour i.e. early childhood seat belt usage campaigns
ONGOING Lack of EE funding mechanism
Creation and adaptation of EE funding facility similar to SUNREF Namibia
Technical assistance and funding to help developers and Financial Institutions grow their EE business
ONGOING Public awareness of EE cost-savings and climatic impact is minimal
Cross-cutting integrated marketing communications campaign to affect EE literacy and behaviour
Public, government, and commercial industry acknowledgement of SEA’s ability to enforce EE regulations and to promote EE policies
USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN | 24
3. SHORT-TERM ACTIONS (2022)
The NEESAP proposes concentrating efforts on the short-term high-impact actions as the results
could start to produce savings in a relatively short time frame, while having a lasting sustainable
impact for Eswatini.
3.1 SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AGENCY
According to the World Energy Council19 60 percent of countries (i.e. 58 countries) have a national
energy agency. Some measures, such as energy pricing or introduction of international standards may
be implemented without a specific energy efficiency institution. But most of the time the
implementation of energy efficiency programmes requires a dedicated technical body able to reach
scattered and multiple energy consumers.
Figure 3: Percentage of countries with an Energy Efficiency Agency Worldwide
An energy efficiency agency is defined here as “a body with strong technical skills, dedicated to
implementing the national energy efficiency policy” (ibid). Such agencies are usually separate from
ministries but may be part of a ministry. For instance, the South African National Energy
Development Institute (SANEDI) was established in 2011 under the National Energy Act, 2008 (Act
No. 34 of 2008). The Act provides for SANEDI to direct, monitor and conduct energy research and
development, promote energy research and technology innovation as well as undertake measures to
promote energy efficiency throughout the economy. The Executive Authority (EA) of SANEDI is the
DMRE (previously DoE).
These agencies are usually public institutions funded by the state budget, and in developing countries
they are often supported by overseas technical assistance funds. In an increasing number of
countries, part of the budget is based on a tax on energy (e.g. Thailand, Tunisia), whilst others are
expected to operate as a partially private body that has to earn income. In countries with a federal
19 World Energy Perspectives. Energy Efficiency Policies 2016, World Energy Council
25 | USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
or decentralised structure (e.g. Russia, China or India) energy efficiency agencies have been set up by
regional administrations. In addition, many other countries have set up local or regional agencies.
More than three quarters of the 58 surveyed countries have local or regional agencies. It is
estimated that there are now around 800 local or regional agencies at world level, 400 of which are
in Europe.
In Indonesia, the SEA is a business entity that engages in activities such as educating the local
community, facilitating EE/RE research and development, and energy training and education across
various sectors.20 Another example in the SADC region is the Namibian Centre for Renewable
Energy and Energy Efficiency (CREEE). CREEE explores ways to break the barriers associated with
wide adoption and use of RE and EE. Established as an NGO, CREEE is a partnership between
Namibia University of Science and Technology and the Namibia Energy Institute with a charter to:
• Build on work done by the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Institute on RE
technologies and their use;
• Facilitate and conduct research into RE and EE;
• Develop materials and standards, reports and disseminate information and materials on RE
and EE; and
• Facilitate cooperation between ministries and key stakeholders responsible for RE and EE.
The primary objective of all these institutions is to provide technical expertise to
governments and consumers, which cannot always be found in existing institutions. As
the lack of quality of energy efficiency equipment and services is often seen as an obstacle to their
effective deployment, energy agencies can play an ongoing role in that field by certifying those which
have the required quality. Government ministries do not always have the required expertise to carry
out the activities of energy agencies.
Another important function for agencies is to act as a coordinator of all governmental initiatives in
the field of energy efficiency to avoid scattered and uncoordinated actions by different ministries. In
particular, such agencies have proved very useful in negotiating sectoral agreements with groups of
consumers, equipment producers or energy utilities to reach specific targets for efficiency
improvements. In countries that receive funding from international development assistance
programmes, such agencies can in addition act as the national representative with whom donors can
negotiate the implementation of financial packages for energy efficiency.
Sustainable Energy Agencies can be Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) structured as public-
private partnerships, public entities embedded within a ministry, or private entities that tender for
the services. APPENDIX A: selection of instItutional design for a SEA includes an analysis of the
functions of the ideal SEA and how they compare to the two existing entities that run some of the
functions of a SEA: UNESWE-CSER (University of Eswatini Centre of Sustainable Energy Research)
and REAESWA (Renewable Energy Association of Eswatini). During the stakeholder meetings and
the workshop on February 27th, 2020, the consensus was that given the small size of Eswatini,
20 Indonesian Clean Energy Development Project
USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN | 26
empowering the SEA or merging the functions of the existing entities would be much more efficient
than creating a totally new SEA.
The advantages and disadvantages of different SEA structures have been analysed and summarized in
a publication in 2010 by the IEA21:
TABLE 5: TYPES OF SEA AND THEIR ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
ORGANIZATION TYPE ADVANTAGES DISADVANTGES
Department / Unit within a government energy agency
Access to decision makers
Potential for international co-operation and donor funding
Influence on policy and legislation
Limitations on salary and staff
Difficulty in taking decisions
Must compete for attention of policy makers
Specialised governmental energy efficiency and clean energy agencies
Credibility with other public agencies
Ability to specialize and focus
Potential for international co-operation and donor funding
Limitations on salary and staff
Potential opposition from elsewhere within government
Independent clean energy corporation or NGO
Linkages to and credibility with private sector
Access to multiple public and private funding sources
Independence and autonomy
Difficult to enact and enforce policy
Lack of authority
Energy efficiency and clean energy public-private partnership
Independence and autonomy
Credibility with stakeholders and consumers
Cultural benefits of a purpose-driven organization
Only indirect access to public policy making
Must compete for resources, including staff and public funding
Lack of authority
3.2 RECOMMENDED SEA OPTION FOR ESWATINI
Although Eswatini does not have a SEA, there are two institutions that perform some of the
functions of a typical SEA: UNESWE-CSER (University of Eswatini Centre of Sustainable Energy
Research) and REAESWA (Renewable Energy Association of Eswatini).
The UNESWE-CSER is a semi-autonomous centre based in the University of Eswatini, focusing on
research, training and consultancy:
21 IEA Energy Efficiency Governance Handbook 2010
27 | USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
The Centre focuses on the following areas in terms of research and development, training and
consultancy services:
• Education, training, research and capacity development: provide energy education, train
energy artisans, conduct energy related research, organize workshops and specialized short
courses on energy for the policy makers, trade institutions and other energy stakeholders;
• Solar photovoltaic systems characterisation: conduct solar photovoltaic systems
characterisation;
• Training for accreditation: develop and provide training for certification programmes for the
installation of various energy consuming systems and installation of renewable energy
technologies such as solar PV, small wind turbine and biogas plants;
• Solar thermal: conduct research on solar water heaters, solar crop/food dryers, and solar
water purification systems;
• Bio-energy: conduct research on solid biomass, bio-liquid fuels and biogas;
• Wind energy: conduct improvements on wind data and identify suitable wind turbines for
Eswatini;
• Hydropower: carryout studies on appropriate hydroelectric generating systems;
• Sustainable energy strategies (Energy and the environment): conduct research on energy
and its effect on the local environment and contribution to climate change;
• Energy efficiency and conservation: gather information on and develop best practices on the
promotion of new energy efficient and conservation technologies, practices and energy
cost minimizations;
• Alternative energy sources: conduct research on possibilities of waste to energy and
geothermal power;
• Energy system analysis: carryout studies on energy supply/demand dynamics, data mining,
behavioural aspect of energy use, energy infrastructure analysis, geopolitical aspect of
energy use, and energy in transportation systems;
• Energy Audits: conduct measurement and verification for systems where energy audits are
carried out;
• Measurement and verification: provide services for measurement and verification of energy
systems;
• Computational modelling for energy: use computational modelling for various applications
including energy demand scenarios, climate change mitigation and adaptation scenarios,
diffusion of energy technologies, energy dynamics, etc.; and
USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN | 28
• Testing protocols and methodologies: develop testing protocols and methodologies for
future fuels and energy systems.
The Renewable Energy Association of Eswatini (REASWA) was established in 1998 under an EU-
funded project in the Southern African Renewable Energy Information Network with the assistance
of the Eswatini MNRE. REASWA which holds NGO status, acts as a PPP entity and could become
the country’s SEA. It supports RE projects and EE initiatives such as the promotion of LED bulbs and
the use of solar water heaters. REASWA's funding is obtained through projects, with 30 percent
allocated for administration costs. Combining RE and EE efforts under the auspices of a single body is
an accepted practice. It facilitates the cross-sector adaptation of new technologies which encompass
RE and EE elements. For example, solar rooftop PV panels can be considered both, RE and EE as
they help to decrease demand. Many RE technologies may also be considered EE as they result in the
more efficient use of the fuel, i.e., co-generation. The increased use of energy storage over the next
fifteen years will make the RE/EE differentiation harder as systems as many electric vehicles (EVs) will
include batteries, thus controlling peak demand and increasing grid optimization.
REASWA objectives include:
• To implement government policy aimed at reducing energy dependence, through the
democratization of renewable energy (RE) and the promotion of energy efficiency (EE);
• To be a centre of excellence and innovation, unifying national actors in the field of RE and EE, and
playing a leadership role at international level; and
• To be an essential agency for EE and RE.22
It’s important to mention that given its current structure, the REAESWA has some gaps, particularly
the lack of:
• Sufficient full-time staff, that should be addressed with government and donor budget
support
• An institutional mandate to propose and enact MEPS, and recommend fiscal and financial
incentives associated with each MEPS
• Data gathering and analyses to set targets and M&V procedures to track progress versus
targets
• The mandate to represent Eswatini in regional and international EE organizations like
SACREEE and become the main implementing agent of regional EE initiatives.
Based on experience, the most important winning factor for a SEA is to be able to secure donor
grant funding. This means to have at least three people on a permanent basis to write proposals for
grants and donor projects and at least one seconded international expert in EE and grant proposal
writing.
22 AMEE
29 | USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
The next table compares the functions described for a SEA, and the current tasks performed by
each entity and its potential
TABLE 6: ANALYSIS OF BEST SUITED ENTITY FOR A SEA IN ESWATINI
SEA’s functions UNESWE-CSER REAESWA
General Administration
Manage overall budget for
portfolio of programs
Apparently UNESWE capacity
for budget management and
administration is better than
REAESWA as it would follow
similar procedures already in
place at the University
General administration capabilities
are self-reported and weak. “Lack of
attractive annual financial statements
subject to external audit to lure
potential funders or donors. Lack of
internal accounting guidelines and
human resource systems”
Program Development,
Planning and Budgeting
CSER reports the
development of several
programs including training in
EE and RE and MEPS, some of
the key actions proposed in
this NEESAP.
REASWA lists four projects, but
none in MEPS nor training.
It does not seem any program was
designed by REASWA
Program delivery and
implementation
CSER reports 11 programs
successfully implemented since
its creation two years ago
REASWA lists four programs
implemented, three of them for
residential sector
Program evaluation No experience listed No experience listed
In summary, the CSER has technical capacity, but relies on part-time contributions of university staff.
Its management capacity would be inadequate for the purposes of a SEA. In addition, being
embedded in university systems would compel the SEA to follow university procedures and
regulations, which would complicate the transformation of CSER to a semi-autonomous SEA.
REASWA has weak technical capacity, but is nominally self-standing, and receives non-financial
support from the Ministry. REASWA in its current form is demonstrably unsuited for the role of the
SEA.
With these considerations in mind, a realistic option is to explore ways of bringing together the two
institutions and combining their strengths and positive attributes. A possibility would be for the
REASWA to become a secretariat empowered with the functions of a SEA and to enter into a
formal working relationship with the CSER as the central technical resource. Details of this are best
USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN | 30
worked out by the Ministry and the two bodies in order to produce a solution that is consistent
with public practice in Eswatini.
31 | USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
3.3 MINIMUM ENERGY PERFORMANCE STANDARDS LABELING
Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) are used by regulators to make sure products meet
specified criteria related to energy performance, quality of service, and longevity. They are
considered an effective way of encouraging manufacturers and distributors to develop and deliver
quality energy-efficient products. As lighting products and appliances are traded goods, and regional
energy markets become integrated, countries in Eastern and Southern Africa must synchronize and
adopt reciprocal standards, regulations, and policies such as collective or similar MEPS. When
business owners and households have reliable and easily accessible information about how much
energy a product may waste or save, they can then make rational decisions about buying EE
appliances or systems.
Almost all surveyed countries by the World Energy Council (53 countries) have implemented at
least one MEPS. Efficiency standards for new buildings are implemented in 85 percent of surveyed
countries (and planned in 13 percent): they are becoming the most common standards. After
buildings, MEPS on refrigerators lamps, electric motors and other appliances (washing machines and
AC) are still widely implemented (up to 80 percent of surveyed countries). MEPS on vehicles and
solar water heaters are less common, but MEPS on solar water heaters would be very relevant for
Eswatini.
Figure 4: Percentage of countries with MEPS. Source: World Energy Council
The enabling actions in Eswatini should extend beyond MEPS labelling and into the capacity and
certification of engineers capable of conducting regular energy audits. Residential consumers and
businesses do not have the required information to make logical purchases. Anecdotally, educated
consumers associate more expensive products with energy efficiency, but this is not always the case.
In addition to consumer education, South Africa developed fiscal incentives such as rebates to bridge
the price gap making energy efficient products more affordable. MEPS labelling is a practical approach
to promoting EE in Eswatini. There is the potential to save substantial amounts of energy per year
through this widely established high-impact action. For instance, according to the 2019 USAID
report Standards and Labelling Programs International Overview, the impact of 23 MEPS in China is
estimated to equate to a savings of at least 100 terawatt hours per year by year 2025, which is three
times the production of the Three Dam Gorge.
USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN | 32
The recommended program will focus on traditional appliances and equipment, but it is important to
note off-grid home systems, and other off-grid solutions where the use of substandard equipment
often results in a higher total lifetime operational cost. As the current awareness level is
inconsequential, an educational campaign focused on MEPS label literacy and the long-term financial
savings will be simultaneously executed.
The introduction of a mandatory MEPS labelling program aims to bring about a market
transformation. The primary objectives are:
• To introduce higher efficiency electrical appliances and by so
doing reduce consumption at both a national and household
level;
• To eliminate inefficient electrical appliances;
• To increase public awareness of energy efficiency and allow
consumers to make informed choices when purchasing new
appliances; and
• To recognize electricity consumption of appliances are a major
component of the country’s total energy profile and savings
achieved from EE appliances can become meaningful with
benefits such as:
• Deferring or eliminating the need for new power plants;
• Reducing pollution and GHG emissions; and
• Increasing disposable income for households through
lower utility bills.
A detailed study to calculate the potential savings of implementing MEPS for lighting and the most
popular appliances would involve impact assessment of the current market, and this is beyond the
scope of this NEESAP. The impact assessment would seek to identify:
• The sectors which will be affected;
• The distributional effects, such as transfer of income or redistribution of opportunities;
• The sectors which will endure the costs and benefits for each option; and
• The unintended consequences and indirect costs that may arise with the implementation of a
mandatory MEPS labelling program.
To calculate the savings related to each appliance the study should:
• Agree on the exact types of appliance to be regulated by use and size e.g., defining what a large
refrigerator is;
• Gather detailed trade data of the units manufactured or imported into Eswatini and their energy
efficiency; and
The adoption of 23 MEPS from 2010 to 2014 in China is resulting in an estimated saving of 1517 TWh by year 2030. Savings by 2025 will be higher than the generation from the Three Gorges Dam (112 vs 100 TWh)
33 | USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
• Estimate level of penetration of each appliance in Eswatini—understanding that the types of
appliances used in households are dependent on income levels.
A cost benefit analysis should be performed including:
• Energy demand reduction;
• Peak load reduction;
• Environmental impact;
• Consumer impact;
• Manufacturer and employment impact; and
• Trade impact.
Of these, one of the most important criteria for setting an efficiency target for MEPS is the
consumer impact analysis. Generally, mandatory standards which impose a net financial penalty to
consumers are undesirable and will be politically untenable. Whereas, when MEPS can be
demonstrated to provide large cost savings, it provides a strong justification for the program.
Therefore, cost effectiveness analysis is ideally the primary element for MEPS targets. For example,
MEPS can be chosen to maximize net financial savings or to maximize energy savings while still
providing a net benefit. A variety of metrics are used to evaluate cost-effectiveness of appliance
efficiency standards. These include payback period, benefit-
cost ratio, life-cycle cost, and cost of conserved energy. Of
these measurements the life-cycle cost calculation is most
appropriate for capturing overall net financial impacts to
consumers. Life-cycle cost is calculated by:
In this equation, I is the initial investment (equipment price),
OC is the annual operating cost, l is the equipment lifetime
and d is the discount rate. The lifecycle cost includes the full
cost to the consumer of purchasing and operating an
appliance over its lifetime. Annual operating cost is the annual
energy use multiplied by the energy price. Typically, efficiency improvements reduce operating cost,
but increase the initial investment. The change in LCC is relative to the base case can therefore
either be positive or negative. If the operating cost decrease outweighs the initial investment and
increases the standard net savings to consumers it is determined to be cost-effective. If, the initial
investment increase outweighs the operating cost decrease and the increases the net cost to
consumers it is determined not to be cost-effective. The discount rate parameterizes the difference
in present value of initial investment, which is immediate and the operating cost, which is deferred.
MEPS are used by regulators to make sure that products meet specified criteria related to energy performance, quality of service, and durability.
USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN | 34
HIGH LEVEL ESTIMATION OF THE IMPACT FOR A MEPS FOR REFRIGERATORS IN
ESWATINI
In the absence of a detailed study for Eswatini, which is beyond the scope of this document, parallel
conclusions can be drawn to similar programs23. The correct methodology is outlined above, but the
analysis below will rely on back-of-the envelop approximations to understand the benefits of setting
MEPS for refrigerators.
International experience in other African countries shows that refrigerators are marketed to all who
have access to electricity, and they are one of the first appliances that new homeowners or recently
employed individuals will purchase. This has been quite well documented in South Africa during the
implementation phase of MEPS for fridges and freezers.
Most consumers in the low-income levels prefer to buy a small chest freezer which has the ability to
operate as a refrigerator or freezer based on the users’ requirements – it has the functionality to be
switched between the two operating modes by the household. Chest freezers are also more
affordable and carry more volume than the upright fridge/freezer combinations. On the other end of
the scale, aspirational models have more functions, such as wine racks, water and ice dispensers and
the latest development is to feature a reflective (mirror) surface while some units even include a
screen. All of these models have higher efficiency levels compared to the entry level models;
however, it becomes evident that these extra features quickly add up to more than the cost of
higher quality rubber seals or a more efficient compressor.
23 Energy Performance and Labelling Requirements for Specific Electrical Appliances and Equipment, 2012
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TABLE 7: POTENTIAL IMPACT OF MEPS FOR REFRIGERATION IN ESWATINI (FRIDGE/FREEZER)
INNEFICIENT
APPLIANCE
EFFICIENT APPLICANCE DIFFERENCE
RATING PRICE Rating Price Saving
kWh/year
Premium paid
F 3604 A+ 5305 400 KWH 1701
At a residential tariff of 1.75 E/kWh, this would be an extra cost for the household of 700 E
(400x1.75E) Assuming a life cycle of at least 10 years:
10 years saving = 7000 E at current tariff (assuming tariff do not increase), which clearly justifies the
extra cost of 1701 E. A saving of 5299 E.
Assuming the country may have 300,000 of these units. Replacement of the poor efficient units
would save the households about E 2,040 million.
As for the cost to the country, and assuming all those kWh were imported from South Africa:
400 kW x 300,000 x 10 years = 1,200,000 MWh at an average estimated cost of 2 E/kWh (MegaFlex
tariff average) = E 2,400 million, or about E 240 million per year.
This rough computation may have several flaws, which could be rectified with a more in-depth study,
but serves as a prime example to illustrate the magnitude of the savings. Considering that all
refrigerators are imported, there is no cost for Eswatini companies to move to a higher efficiency.
The cost would be limited to the adoption of MEPS, generating the labelling program and the cost of
the administration of the program, which in any case will be much lower than E 240 million per year.
A set of MEPSs focusing on high impact appliances could represent a reduction in residential
electricity demand of 10 percent for the end uses covered under MEPS labelling by the end of 2020
and 16 percent savings by 2034.
3.4 FINANCIAL AND FISCAL INCENTIVES
These are economic incentives aimed at encouraging investment in energy efficient equipment and
processes by reducing the investment cost, either directly (financial incentives) or indirectly (fiscal
incentives). Financial incentives include subsidies for energy audits or investments and soft loans.
Fiscal incentives include tax reduction, tax credit or accelerated depreciation, as well as tax on
inefficient equipment (appliances and cars). Economic incentives can be defined as a fixed amount
representing a percentage of the investment (with a ceiling), or as a sum proportional to the amount
of energy saved.
Even moderate financial support (e.g. a subsidy or tax rebate) can be the final trigger for an energy
efficiency investment being implemented as they tend to be of secondary importance in decision
making compared to investments in production - regardless of their cost-effectiveness. For instance,
in industry, the requirements for pay-back times of energy efficiency projects are usually between
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one (1) and two (2) years and depend on the type of investment (shorter for pure energy efficiency
investments and longer for process investments). Despite typically very short pay-back times for
some industrial motors (e.g. Variable Speed Driver) and relatively short pay-back times of efficient
motors in comparison to their lifetimes, financial incentives still have an important role in the
implementation of improvements.
More than two thirds of surveyed countries by the World Energy Council have implemented some
kind of fiscal or financial measures. Financial incentives are dominant compared to fiscal measures in
all regions. African countries in particular have a strong preference for financial rather than fiscal
incentives. Fiscal incentives tend to be more complicated to administer, and experience in South
Africa shows that only the most sophisticated companies benefit from them, leaving out most small
and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).
Figure 5: Financial vs Fiscal incentives, World Energy Council EE survey 2016
Economic incentives have several well-known drawbacks:
• They often attract consumers who would have carried out the investments even without the
incentive, the so-called “free riders” (e.g. high-income households or energy intensive
industries).
• Consumers that are targets of the schemes (small to medium industries, and low-income
households) do not take advantage of them because they are unaware of their existence.
This demonstrates the challenges of informing a multitude of consumers adequately about
the existence of incentives. For instance, energy subsidies (electricity or fuel) provide more
benefit to higher social classes in emerging countries that have access to energy- in addition
energy subsidies can be counter intuitive (economically speaking) as they are implemented to
lower higher price while these kinds of incentives should be offered to encourage
consumers when prices are low.
• Subsidy schemes may have a negative impact on the market by leading to an increase in the
cost of equipment, if manufacturers or contractors raise their prices in anticipation of the
rebates that purchasers will be granted;
These drawbacks lead to regular adaptations of the schemes. Economic incentives are now better
targeted to limit the number of beneficiaries (e.g. low-income households, tenants). They are also
restricted to certain types of investments (from a selected list of equipment), with a long payback
time but high efficiency gains (e.g. renewables, co-generation), or to innovative technologies
(demonstrative or exemplary investments).
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In areas where the cost effectiveness of energy efficient technologies is not too high, subsidies are
viewed as a temporary measure to mobilize consumers, to prepare for new regulations, or to
promote these technologies by creating a larger market than would otherwise exist, with the
objective of a cost reduction for the subsidized technologies. Once the critical mass has been
reached, economic incentives can be reduced and even stopped without slowing down the diffusion
dynamics.
However, the experience of several countries (e.g. Tunisia and Taiwan) with subsidies for solar
heaters shows that, if subsidies are discontinued prematurely, sales drop suddenly when the market
is not sufficiently mature. To limit these drawbacks, it is necessary to avoid changing the subsidy
schemes too often and in an inconsistent way. Subsidies should also be reduced progressively and
not stopped suddenly so that market actors can anticipate their phase-out.
In areas where the payback times are too high and not motivating investors (e.g. the retrofitting of
dwellings) financial incentives are necessary and cannot be removed before investments become cost
effective.
Financial and fiscal incentives are increasingly conditional upon quality label as a way of promoting
the use of high-quality equipment. In practical terms, this means that economic incentives are only
granted for equipment that has an approved quality label (e.g. in South Africa, rebates for high
performance electric motors). In the same way these incentives can be granted to encourage the use
of qualified installation contractors.
To be effective, financial and fiscal incentives need to be combined with public information and
awareness campaigns to stimulate public interest in energy efficient equipment. Where regulations
have been introduced, additional economic or fiscal incentives may be necessary to ensure that the
initial extra costs involved (at least during the early stages) do not give rise to increased costs for
consumers.
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
Financial incentives fall into three broad categories: subsidies for audits, investment subsidies and soft
loans. According to the survey, among financial measures, subsidies are dominant, except in Africa
and Asia, and represent on average 50 percent of financial measures, followed by soft loans. Soft
loans are the preferred incentive in Africa.
Figure 6: Most popular financial and fiscal incentives. Source WEC EE survey 2016
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Investment subsidies are popular in OECD countries where more than 80 percent of the surveyed
countries have subsidy schemes.
Investment subsidies exist to retrofit existing buildings, dwellings or industrial facilities, and thus
shorten the payback times. In some countries incentives to fulfil the energy building code are given
through encouragement systems, which support compliance with requirements. There are subsidies
that can only be obtained if certain energy efficiency requirements are fulfilled, and are based on
pure compliance with requirements in the codes or on measures stricter than the energy efficiency
requirements in these codes. In different regions of Austria there are subsidies combined with
energy efficiency requirements, which are stricter than the minimum requirements in the building
codes. This can be additional insulation, improved windows or installation of renewable energy
sources such as solar collectors, photo voltage or biomass ovens or boilers. In some Austrian
provinces this has led to nearly all buildings being constructed with an energy efficiency which is
better than the requirements in the codes, but as a minimum the requirements are fulfilled.
Subsidies are also used to lower the price of efficient equipment that is usually more expensive than
the market average price (e.g. CFL, efficient motors or boilers, solar water heaters), and are often
conditional on old inefficient equipment being replaced:
Electric motors in South Africa: Eskom launched an Energy Efficient Motors Programme in mid-2007 to
subsidize the replacement of old motors with highly efficient motors. Efficient motor suppliers registered with
Eskom are directly paid by the subsidy, resulting in an immediate discount for the consumer. The purchaser
must trade in their old motor, along with all components, for scrapping.
Subsidies may also be given to equipment producers to encourage the development and marketing of energy
efficient equipment, to improve the quality and the cost of production.
Subsidies for Energy Audits: Spreading energy audits is a way of providing well targeted
information to consumers to help them undertake investments. Thus, subsidies for energy audits aim
at making them more attractive to consumers, if they are not mandatory.
The subsidy is either a fixed amount or a percentage of the audit cost (e.g. 30 percent). Audit
subsidies are more frequently distributed in industry and public/commercial buildings than in
residential buildings.
SOFT LOANS AND EE FINANCE FACILITIES
Easy access to credit with appropriate conditions for financing the initial investment is a fundamental
measure to overcome the initial cost barrier. This is achieved by proposing to consumers who invest
in energy efficient technologies and equipment soft loans which are loans at subsidized interest rates,
i.e. lower than the market rate. Soft loans have the advantage of being easily implemented by banking
institutions. Specific credit lines with the help of donors and the establishment of credit guarantee
schemes by the State will encourage banks to be more active by providing soft loans to finance
energy efficiency investments. Typically, soft loan programmes target SMEs.
Financing has been identified during the field missions as a major barrier to the successful
implementation of Energy Efficiency measures. Given the importance of this subject, but also the
wide range of solutions adopted by different stakeholders in the Southern Africa region, the most
common sources of financing for Energy Efficiency will be reviewed below, followed by a conclusion
of recommended approaches for Eswatini.
The primary financing mechanisms utilized by multilateral and bilateral financing sources for EE are:
39 | USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
• Grants: Used for projects otherwise difficult to finance by commercial banks.
• Concessional loans: Subsidize interest rates to make EE more appealing.
• Credit lines: Market or subsidized loans that usually include technical assistance for project
identification and preparation.
• Credit or risk guarantees: Quite often ESCO companies do not have the balance sheet to be
able to offer financing. Risk guarantees help to finance projects and companies that
otherwise would not be able to obtain financing due to their weak balance sheet.
• Equity financing: Equity financing is often needed when the financing institutions do not have
the expertise or appetite to test new EE markets, yet the projects are profitable.
The largest amount for financing for EE is in the form of concessional loans. The financing sources
often provide the concessional loans in collaboration with a commercial financial institution and
leverage the available funds by requiring matching contributions.
Market-based loans are used when availability of funds (liquidity) is an issue but there is no need to
subsidize the project with concessional financing. In such cases the financing overcomes the liquidity
barrier. An example of this mechanism is the AfD SUNREF program in Namibia, Mauritius and South
Africa among other countries.
Risk guarantees are an effective mechanism when the commercial financing sources have a
perception of high risk with respect to the climate friendly technology. By providing a risk guarantee,
the financing source reduces the risk perception and facilitates commercial financing. One of the best
examples of this mechanism is the IFC’s CEEF Programme in Eastern Europe. After the success of
CEEF, IFC has implemented similar programs in China, Vietnam and the Philippines.
When the basic technology to be deployed is very expensive, grants may be used. However,
generally the amount of grant funding available from financing sources is small and may be limited to
small projects.
Equity financing is also not very common from multilateral or bilateral sources but there are a few
sources of such financing. The GEEREF fund provided equity financing as does the Bulgarian Energy
Efficiency Fund.
PPPS IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY FINANCING
The IEA study documented 3 types of PPPs for energy efficiency (EE) financing that are relevant for
other types of climate change mitigation projects:
• Dedicated credit lines: Credit lines established by a public entity (such as a government
agency and/or donor organization) to enable financing of EE projects by a private-sector
organization (bank or financial institution). Generally, the private-sector bank or financial
institution provides additional financing (co-financing) for the EE projects.
• Risk-sharing facilities: Partial risk or partial credit guarantee programs established by a
public entity (such as a government agency and/or donor organization) to reduce the
risk of EE project financing to the private sector (by sharing the risk through a guarantee
mechanism), thereby enabling increased private-sector lending to EE projects.
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• Energy Saving Performance Contracts (ESPCs): Public-sector initiatives, in the form
of legislation or regulation, established by one or more government agencies to facilitate
the implementation by ESCOs of energy performance-based contracts for improving EE
in the public sector using private-sector financing.
EXAMPLES OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY CREDIT LINES IN SOUTHERN AFRICA:
SOUTH AFRICA GREEN ENERGY EFFICIENCY FUND (2011-2013)
The German Development Bank (KfW) partnered with South Africa’s Industrial Development
Corporation (IDC) to establish a ZAR 500 million (EUR 45 million at the exchange rate of 2011)
facility called the Green Energy Efficiency Fund (GEEF) for financing energy efficiency and self-use
renewable energy projects. The Fund was intended to provide loans at a preferential interest rate
and long repayment window to energy users in South Africa. The aim of GEEF was to improve
energy efficiency, support renewable energies and extend the range of financial products that IDC
offers to EE/RE products. The target groups were energy users, especially small and medium
enterprises, as well as private and public households in South Africa. The facility included a Technical
Assistance Facility for project identification, pipeline generation and project preparation using a KfW
grant.
KfW has become a leading environmental and climate finance institution which is continuously
expanding its activities on behalf of the German Government.
The financing mechanisms used by KfW include grants, development loans, promotional loans, and
credit lines. KfW is increasingly developing public-private partnerships, and engaging in project
financing, including both debt and equity. Both of these mechanisms are designed to leverage private
financing.
Illustrative programs and projects financed by KfW include;
• Energy efficiency programme for the SME sector in India
• Solar energy development bin Brazil
• Wind farm on the Red Sea in Egypt
• Efficient transport in China
• Forest conservation in Nicaragua
• Green Energy Efficiency Fund in South Africa (implemented by the South African IDC).
GEEF was a very successful green financing facility, in the sense that it triggered commercial
banks into the financing of EE, and provided capacity building to key IDC employees that moved
later to commercial banks and led new private sector EE finance facilities
AFD SUNREF (2014-DATE) NAMIBIA, MAURITIUS, SOUTH AFRICA
Sustainable development and climate change are one of the five sectorial priorities of the French
Development Agency (“AFD”), notably through the private sector strengthening the transition
towards a green economy. In articulation with local public policies, AFD, France’s bilateral
development finance institution, has put in place since 2007 a targeted support to develop innovative
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green investments through environmental credit lines for local financial institutions. This support,
called SUNREF (Sustainable Use of Natural Resources and Energy Financing) includes both technical
assistance and credit lines (i.e. loans) to local financial institutions for them to finance small and
medium sized projects of public and private promoters. From 2007 to date, AFD has committed
nearly EUR 2 billion through 35 green credit line programmes with more than 40 financial
institutions to finance green projects in developing and emerging countries.
In 2015, AFD launched a feasibility study to assess the potential for such a scheme in Namibia. The
conclusions of this study highlighted the room and appetite for the SUNREF programme.
In June 2017, AFD formalized (i) a grant in favour of the EIF (Environmental Investment Fund of
Namibia) (the “Grant”) through the signing of a financing agreement (the “Grant Agreement”) and
(ii) several credit facilities (the “Credit Facilities”) with partner banks of the SUNREF Programme
(the “Partner Banks”), through the signing of credit facility agreements (the “Credit Facility
Agreements”). As a green credit line for businesses, SUNREF was designed to help local businesses
to seize opportunities in greening the Namibian economy. This innovative programme is part of a
broad initiative developed by AFD to mobilize public and private banks to finance investments with
customized financial terms in the private sector that provide greater use of green technologies and
sustainable energy. The aim of SUNREF Namibia is to facilitate access to affordable sustainable
energy, agriculture and tourism, to allow companies to acquire higher quality equipment, to make
cost savings, and to be more competitive through better energy management and improved
environmental performance.
SUNREF Namibia provides a specific and innovative financial offer and technical assistance:
1. A credit line provided to partner banks in Namibia, namely, FNB, Nedbank and Bank
Windhoek
2. Technical assistance for companies and banks: In large part due to the AFD’s financial
participation, the technical assistance is delivered free of charge. EIF is a key partner in the
implementation of the technical assistance programme as a major local actor in the
promotion of the sustainability sector in Namibia. Technical and financial assistance of the
bank is provided to identify lending opportunities in sustainable energy, sustainable
agriculture and sustainable tourism, and to analyse the bankability of the selected projects.
Technical assistance is also provided to project sponsors as they develop their projects, in
order to ensure the best technical solutions for the development of eligible, innovative, and
profitable green projects
3. Capacity building services to the Environmental Investment Fund (EIF) and partner banks to
enable the entities to further promote the development of a low carbon economy in
Namibia
The AfD works on behalf of the French government to finance development in accordance with
French overseas development assistance policies. The Primary Objectives of AfD Strategic
Orientation are:
• Provide a diversified range of services including advice, capacity building and financing
• Aim for AfD's financing commitments to contribute to at least 40 percent of each of its
three primary goals: promoting economic growth, fighting poverty and preserving “Global
Public Goods,” which includes means fighting climate change
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• Dedicate at least 80 percent of all grant funding and 60 percent of France's development aid
contribution to AfD's budget to interventions in sub-Saharan Africa
• Implement a strategy for interventions in emerging countries based on managing Global
Public Goods of benefit to all humanity, i.e. fighting climate change and pandemics, and
preserving biodiversity.
AfD directs 50 percent of its financing commitments to non-sovereign entities, such as local
governments and authorities, businesses and non-governmental organizations.
AfD also operates the French Global Environment Facility, which has provided grants to a number of
climate change mitigation programs and projects and has partnered with the World Bank in the
Africa Assist programme to support CDM in sub-Saharan Africa.
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ESWATINI:
Energy prices in Eswatini are high enough to make investment in EE quite profitable but not all
businesses, nor public sector may have access to financing. Therefore, the recommendations are the
set-up two kinds of actions:
• Support EE projects with a grant funded program for public sector EE investment that could
be used as demonstration projects. This would need a budget support mechanism that could
be funded directly or by establishment of an EE or environmental levy.
• Attract a DFI and commercial banks to set up in Eswatini a similar program as SUNREF
Namibia or the KfW GEFF facility, that includes technical assistance to identify and package
the EE projects as well as financing. This kind of solution does not involve any budget
support and is more sustainable in the long term.
Other possibilities would be to set up an EE rebate program as Eskom did in 2012-2013, but this
would involve strong budgetary support.
FISCAL INCENTIVES
The issue of purchasing EE equipment versus non-energy efficient equipment is often related to cost.
The consumer must understand the lifecycle of the product and cash on hand to buy the more
expensive in the moment, but cheaper in the long-term, product. As explained, the EE product will,
over time, generate a lower operational cost. Inefficient equipment is not only a burden for the
consumer, but also for the government, thereby requiring a greater budget for buying energy and
building energy infrastructure. These expenses could be curtailed if a majority of organizations and
residents purchased and used more energy efficient products. For this reason, some governments
impose either a higher tax on non-efficient equipment or offer lower taxes for more energy efficient
products. In Europe, it is commonplace for the VAT on vehicles to vary from zero to 33 percent
depending on their energy efficiency and environmental performance. Data show that even in
Mauritius and South Africa, countries with a relatively high awareness of EE, grant financing and fiscal
incentives are required to implement public demonstration projects and drive the creation of
consumer demand for EE and RE products and services.
In the case of incentives such as tax rebates as practiced in South Africa, small- to medium-sized
enterprises do not readily benefit as the costs related to investment in M&V of energy savings do not
justify the effort. The SEA will need to create a different rebate structure to incentivize EE behaviour
for this class of business—one designed to financially encourage their participation. The MNRE
identified target groups for fiscal incentives based on a gap analysis of the existing EE financing
43 | USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
mechanisms and requirements. Overseen by the SEA, the MNRE would require cooperation from
the Ministry of Finance to implement tax rebates and incentives, the Renewable Energy Association
of Swaziland, commercial and development banks, and industry-specific stakeholders.
Another form of fiscal incentive is to reduce the tax to be paid when purchasing energy efficient
equipment (VAT, import duties, or purchase for cars) or when investing to improve energy
efficiency in buildings (reduction in VAT rate on labour cost). In the US, tax incentives have been
given in recent years to increase the level of insulation and to encourage the constructer and
building owners to go further than the minimum requirements. These incentives have probably also
helped to increase compliance with the codes.
VAT reduction on labour costs to reduce the investment in building renovation is in use in several
European countries.
Accelerated depreciation is used mainly in industry and it is relevant for less than 7 percent of
surveyed countries. Fiscal measures also include tax reduction for the use of efficient cars (annual
registration tax). Reduction on the purchase tax and/or annual registration tax for cars has been
introduced in several European countries to promote the uptake of efficient cars: they are usually
linked to the CO2 emission of cars and therefore indirectly to their energy efficiency. The objective
is to offer consumers incentives to buy more efficient cars.
Tax on inefficient equipment (appliances and cars) can discourage and thus incentivize end-users to
purchase new efficient products. Road charges are also considered as a fiscal measure with an effect
on energy use although their primary goal is to reduce congestion and pollution. Several cities have
implemented such schemes.
A recommendation for Eswatini is that once MEPS are in place, to charge different levels of VAT,
charging more for inefficient equipment and much less for efficient products. Eventually the fiscal
incentive could be budget neutral, collecting more from inefficient equipment and saving the country
expensive energy imports. This initiative needs a detailed impact study beyond the scope of the
current NEESAP, but it is critical to the successful implementation of such a measure. Different
levels of VAT are very common across the globe to encourage the market for efficient appliances as
well as industrial products.
3.5 TIME OF USE TARIFFS FOR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS
Time of Use tariffs (ToU) are an instrument integral to reducing the electrical peak demand,
optimizing the system, and overall demand-side management. Energy efficiency measures and
programs frequently reduce peak demand and, consequently, the need for investment in new
generation, transmission, and distribution systems. Or in the case of imported energy, the higher
tariffs associated to buying peak time energy. A measure that reduces energy mostly at night
(typically a low-cost, off-peak costing period) is not as valuable as one that reduces energy mostly
during the afternoon peak load periods. Load shifting to hours with lower demand translates into
using base load energy from more efficient sources (e.g. hydro), rather than expensive energy
produced by peak plants (typically diesel plants).
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Figure 7: Lifetime cost per energy unit in R/kWh (2016)
The largest consumer segment of electricity in Eswatini is residential customers, and yet they are
currently subsidized heavily by the industrial customers. Implementing a Time of Use residential tariff
for high usage consumers—users of heavy load equipment such as large refrigerators, air
conditioning units, dishwashers, and pumps for swimming pools—who can move part of their load to
off-peak hours would result in monetary and MWh savings. Participation in the use of the tariff
should be optional yet marketed as an opportunity to save money rather than a penalty. Effectively
implemented in multiple EU countries, the consumer-friendly approach is most successful when
accompanied by targeted communications campaigns.
3.6 TRAINING ON EE TECHNOLOGIES AND ENERGY AUDITING
In countries without comprehensive EE programs, there is a limited availability of energy auditors, In
the SADC region, the majority of energy auditors are trained to conduct walk-thru energy audits,
and too often, they lack the requisite measurement instruments to conduct even a general energy
audit. Indeed, Eswatini needs a regulatory body to stipulate if general energy audits and reporting will
be mandatory or voluntary for large demand clients. Until Eswatini can maintain a national roster of
trained and certified energy auditors and the funding institutions to offset the energy audit cost, the
45 | USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
process will remain limited to commercial entities importing
knowledge—in compliance with corporate governance, not local
law.
The proposed approach is to reduce training costs by starting
with train-the-trainers workshops abroad . The trainees will, in
turn, conduct local workshops at a competitive rate. Beyond
building local capacity, the program will drive a market for EE
among industries—creating opportunities for the newly trained
professionals to offer services such as energy audits, and to
support adoption and certification of energy management norms
such as ISO 50001 and Measurement and Verification (M&V)
protocols. The actions involve the mobilization of local and
regional resources and the identification of potential service
providers for international training.
To create an economically viable model, further study into sources of possible training and funds for
increased energy audits is required. Zambia and Zimbabwe are using the Energy Training Foundation
of South Africa to build internal capacity of energy auditors, energy managers, and M&V
professionals. Universities can also form an anchor for sustainable capacity building for energy
auditing such as was done in Lesotho24.
4. MEDIUM-TERM ACTIONS (2028)
4.1 PUBLIC SECTOR DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS
Public sector demonstration EE projects in Eswatini should begin with energy audits for selected
high-volume consumers, such as the Eswatini Water Services Corporation, and the police, due to
the large number of buildings administrated. The audits should be followed by funding for the
recommended energy improvements. It will be easier to obtain donor funding if an independent SEA
leads the demonstration initiative.
Monitoring, verification, and publishing of results will be critical as their public availability ensures all
citizens understand the EE improvements, and they can guide future endeavours. The demonstration
projects will also create opportunities to employ locally trained energy auditors, increasing the
application of their practical skills.
Regional demonstration projects offer an opportunity for locally trained engineers to work alongside
specialists with the latest innovative technologies. This on-the-job training facilitates skills transfer to
the junior specialist. Results of the demonstration projects will be showcased to increase awareness
24 Future-oriented education and societally relevant skills for sustainable energy in Lesotho
Reduce the cost of training by starting with train-the-trainer workshops abroad then the trainers would offer domestic certification and training workshops.
USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN | 46
of EE technologies and to create a broader market for EE policy and behaviour throughout the
region.
4.2 MEPS FOR SECOND PRIORITY APPLIANCES AND INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT
Building on the short-term MEPS labelling program and the lessons learned in South Africa25
additional appliances will be added to the roster of EE labelled products. In South Africa an increase
in purchase of air conditioners is forecasted, while efficiency improvements are moderate. Given
their high per unit usage (for reversible units), they present the third greatest area for potential
savings. Appliances and industrial equipment such as dishwashers and washing machines, plastic
moulding equipment, air compressors, and other products have moderate to high household and
industrial penetration, low usage, and a high baseline efficiency level, therefore the impact of MEPS
are lesser, with the possible exception of tumble dryers for which the growth in ownership in South
Africa provides for potential savings.
The program will follow the same MEPS labelling and consumer education model as the short-term
program. MEPS is always implemented in phases, targeting first the largest volume/impact appliances
and equipment (e.g. lighting, fridges and electric motors) and addressing other equipment in second
or third phases.
4.3 AGRICULTURE SECTOR TIME OF USE TARIFFS
During the consultations the team noted ToU concerns from the agriculture stakeholders,
specifically those in the sugar cane industry. The TOU tariff does not consider optimal times. It was
gathered that during hot periods, sugarcane must be watered twenty-four hours a day. However,
from the water resources management point of view, it is best to irrigate crops at sunrise and
sunset. At sunrise the evaporation is not yet too high, thus the plants can build up a water reserve
to use in the sunniest hours. At sunset the soil and the plants are dry, and any water is efficiently
absorbed by the plant. Irrigation in the hours around the sun’s zenith should be avoided as it leads to
leaf damage and excessive evaporation26.
The City of Johannesburg fines residential clients watering outdoor plants outside of the established
sunrise or sunset periods. The current Eswatini ToU structure discourages irrigation at efficient
times as the optimal times coincide with the peak electricity tariff. Moreover, the system does not
foster a competitive agriculture sector nor the use of EE pumping systems. Thus, not only are new
ToUs needed but also targeted marketing and education campaign. Studies into synchronizing ToU
with irrigation systems and surveys to determine if small- and medium-sized agriculture firms
understand how to optimize ToU by scheduling their irrigation for off-peak periods need to be
conducted.
The water resource management body working with the SEA should address water payments as
plots are charged per hectare instead of by the water consumed. The billing practice discourages
efficient use of water and energy for pumping, as using extremely inefficient flood irrigation, medium
25 Energy Performance and Labelling Requirements for Specific Electrical Appliances and Equipment, 2012 26 Damage on leaves due to irrigation during the highest radiation hours of the day is well documented in
Agriculture Engineering text books
47 | USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
efficient pivot irrigation, or highly efficient drop irrigation cost the same amount. The field interviews
confirmed a lack of understanding in how water storage is also energy storage. In Eswatini, it should
be common practice as in regions with similar profiles such as land-locked semi-arid Malawi27, to
pump water and accumulate it during low-tariff hours in higher reservoirs to use that water later for
irrigation and even for electricity generation.
4.4 ESCO DEVELOPMENT FOR MUNICIPAL PUBLIC LIGHTING AND OTHER
SECTORS
There are opportunities to implement EE initiatives for public
lighting managed by municipalities. Currently, no ESCOs are
operating or investing in EE public lighting. Some municipalities,
like Matsapha, began investigating the possibility, but ESCO
procurement is a complicated matter, and technical assistance
must be provided if it is to be widely adopted. Private sector
participation should be encouraged by creating standard energy
performance contracts and allowing for the long-term
subcontracting of energy services by public entities. Owing to
past issues of corruption in contracting, many Southern African
countries prohibit municipal governments from engaging in
long-term service contracts. This is a major barrier for ESCO
development in South Africa and other SADC countries. Public
procurement regulations should be updated to permit
municipalities to sign five-year contracts, so the potential
ESCOs have time to recover the initial investments from
savings.
4.5 ADOPTION OF GREEN BUILDING CODES FOR PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PRIVATE
OFFICES, AND THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY
Compliance with standards in Eswatini is voluntary. The Eswatini Standards Authority (ESWASA)
acting with the Government, academia, or the public sector may issue suggested building standards,
in cooperation with bodies such as the South Africa Bureau of Standards. However, adherence to
ESWASA adopted standards is not compulsory unless the standard is mentioned in any law. For
instance, ESWASA adopted ISO 50001 and some standards for building energy efficiency, lighting,
refrigeration. Working with ESWASA the SEA should plan to gradually make the most relevant EE
standards mandatory and monitored.
The national building codes should be updated by request of the SEA to standards that include MEPS
for construction equipment and materials as well as general EE guidelines related to orientation,
optimal use of energy, natural light, and water conservation. Windows standards should include
mandatory installation of EE glass (e-glass) or double glazing. New construction should not be
allowed to heat water without using solar water heaters for at least 50 percent of the load.
Additionally, codes should include maximum and minimum air conditioning temperatures to avoid
wasted energy in offices, public buildings, and hospitality sites. Energy monitoring for buildings
27 Energy supply in Malawi: Options and issues
Private sector participation should be encouraged by creating standard energy performance contracts and allowing long-term subcontracting of energy services by public entities.
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exceeding the 500 kWh or other agreed threshold demand should be made mandatory with a
penalty for non-compliance.
5. LONG-TERM ACTIONS (2034)
Several actions are crucial for sustainably achieving the 2034 goal of a 400,000 MWh reduction and
mass EE practices in domestic industries. The success of the outlined long-term activities is
dependent on timely implementation and adaptation of the short- and medium-term actions. The
long-term goals aim to reform transportation policy and to address the multitude of issues revolving
around how food is cooked.
Coordinated by the SEA, the creation of an EE transport sector, new
public transport strategies, optimization of bus lanes, promotion of
bicycles for short-distance commutes, automobile emissions
standards, and other cross-sectoral actions should be planned and
implemented by the SEA with participation from affected ministries as
well as transport and city planning authorities. Moreover, regulations
for electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage should be drafted to
allow the possibility of better load management. The EV owners could
sell excess stored energy back to the grid, at a higher price than
initially paid—an incentive to sell back during peak hours.
As in Malawi, inefficient production and unsustainable use of biomass
energy contributes to environmental degradation i.e., deforestation,
desertification, and soil erosion. The use of wood, charcoal and dung
as cooking fuel results in indoor air pollution causing respiratory
illnesses. Additionally, gathering wood is a time consuming and
exhausting burden most often borne by women and children, who are
then diverted from other activities. Thus, developing a MEPS
education campaign for wood will begin to confront the myriad of gender, health, and EE issues
related to open fire cooking. The SEA will also create policies and incentives to promote solar,
biogas, and access to LPG or natural gas stoves as alternatives.
A massive deployment of RE will require a much more sophisticated management optimization of
the grid, the use of smart grids, and the possibility of real-time electricity pricing for commercial and
residential consumers. As these actions are set for a 15-year execution period, the available new
EE/RE technology and associated lower costs should have stabilized, with many more options
available for consumers at varied price points, including those subsidized for lower-income
consumers.
6. ONGOING ACTIVITIES
The realization of the goals and objectives set forth in this NEESAP will depend on effective
communication with stakeholders, government agencies, and, most importantly, the public. With
public awareness and demand for EE products and systems, the need for local funding mechanisms
will increase. Pilot projects and strategic integrated marketing communications will be designed to
meet each audience with behavioural changing messaging and incentives. Moreover, assuming large
companies will be able to finance their EE investments, financing for SMEs is also needed to support
investments in energy audits, EE equipment, and the adoption of energy management systems.
Building a sustainable adherence towards EE attitudes, practices, behaviours, action plans, pilot
The massive deployment of RE will require a much more sophisticated management optimization of the grid and the possibility or real-time electricity pricing for energy demand-side management.
49 | USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
project participation, and interest in policies can be encouraged through gradual well-designed
communication strategies and financing mechanisms.
After analysing current EE awareness among youth, adults, women, SMEs, government ministries,
and industry stakeholders, an integrated marketing communications strategy should be developed by
the SEA or other EE-responsible entity to support the proposed actions. Taking lessons learned
from previous environmental education campaigns such as Practical Action’s elementary school EE
curricula28 deployed in Zimbabwe and Malawi, the ineffective wetlands youth education campaign in
Seychelles, and the successful television, radio, and nationwide events in rural Cambodia, the SEA’s
community outreach program will be tailored and responsive to Eswatini’s diverse populations.
Moreover, it will take cues from the successful model deployed in the United States to change child,
teen, adult, and overall household attitudes about smoking. In Eswatini, a communication and
outreach strategy will be deployed at the community, municipal, and national levels—operating on
the reverse premise of the increased consumption of junk food driven by children’s demands to
parents. The SEA should execute a comprehensive EE mass media campaign, including YouTube
animations and mobile devices games, to educate Eswatini youth and adults. To bolster the
campaign's cross-cutting efficacy, EE will be added to the national school curriculum beginning with
years 1-4 using the free materials available from Practical Action until local language and region-
specific ones may be developed. During the field missions, research, and stakeholder suggestions
yielded the following possible activities as elements of the campaign:
• Industry-specific seminars;
• Traditional media campaign;
• New media initiatives i.e., social networks, SMS, messaging apps;
• Roadshow with public RE and EE events;
• Publication and dissemination of technical information;
• Demonstration kit showing LED savings;
• Sample solar PV kit distribution;
• Mass media campaigns focused on EE short- and long-term savings; and
• Edutainment about the benefits of new technologies, pay pack periods, and time of use tariffs.
Funding mechanisms combining technical assistance with emerging technologies must be
incorporated into planning from Q1 2020 to further the sustainability of the proposed actions. After
conducting a critical analysis of the existing financing mechanisms, the SEA will review credit lines,
incentives, access to funds, and what changes are needed to adapt existing financial regulations to EE
projects. Beginning with the establishment of a specialized credit line similar to SUNREF Namibia
28 Practical Action Schools
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(AfD), which allows for the leveraging of donor funds with commercial banks debt. This NEESAP
proposes the Eswatini Sustainable Energy Finance (Eswatini SEF) to provide lending at commercial
rates but also to act as a donor-funded technical assistance facility. Eswatini SEF could alleviate the
following financial sector barriers:
• Access to financing for the purchase, installation, and maintenance of EE equipment;
• Awareness level of current and potential financiers who are appraising EE loans;
• Minimal confidence in the return of investment for end-users (and loan performance);
• Lack of capacity of local commercial banks regarding the techniques and benefits of EE
investments—domestic financial institutions do not understand EE investments and how
profitable they can be;
• Provide technical assistance to both the Financial Institutions, and to the potential borrowers as
was seen with the increased EE lending through SUNREF Namibia and GEEF South Africa;
• Help the private, public, and residential sectors to become more resilient to climate change by
technical assistance and training.
• Unlock the potential of current portfolio into profitable EE investments as a regular practice.
7. POTENTIAL ENABLERS TO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
PROPOSED ACTIONS
The proposed actions are enablers for the successful implementation of the NEESAP. The NEESAP
focuses on the electricity sector due to the potential high EE impact over a short time frame and
energy growth, especially among residential consumers. The projections are consistent with the
Government of Eswatini’s goal to reach universal electrification by the year 202229. When Eswatini
reaches universal electrification, the importance of focusing on EE in the electricity sector will be
increased. Higher EE in electricity could reduce electricity imports and also reduce the cost of
producing goods and services—a benefit to the economy and to the standard of living.
According to the Kingdom of Eswatini Energy Master Plan, 2034 (2018), access to electricity for low-
income households is a priority, while the affordability of energy is a major concern. Low public
awareness of the benefits of EE, energy audits, EMS, and Measurement and Verification (M&V) exist
in many end users of electricity. Indeed, even large industrial power consumers are not availing
themselves of basic tools that would result in lower consumption and increased savings. The
missions to gather data included interviews with large complex multinationals in the food and textile
industries who exhibited a clear interest and even KPIs related to energy efficiency. However, they
lacked the monitoring and energy management systems to better understand how to become more
energy efficient.
29 Kingdom of Eswatini Energy Master Plan, 2034 (2018),
51 | USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
Unlike other African countries, such as South Africa or Egypt, Eswatini does not have regulations
making energy audits compulsory for large clients nor does it offer formal training for energy
auditors. In engineering degree programs and professional schools, a 4-week certificate of
competency in energy audits could drastically increase local EE capacity—creating jobs, providing the
skill for projects, and helping with the installation of more
sophisticated projects where the involvement of an engineer is
needed. Moreover, there are no local ESCOs, although some South
African companies operating in Eswatini have contracted
international ESCOs to serve their EE needs. Energy auditors and
ESCOs are critical to identifying EE opportunities and justifying
finance for EE projects. Capacity building and funding for energy
audits for SMEs and public demonstration projects could be
procured through donors or environmental fees. EE education is an
important issue that needs to be addressed at schools, technical
colleges, and universities to build capacity and augment public
awareness initiatives.
Efficient wood cooking stoves can have a positive impact on the
quantity of wood burned, decrease the risk of respiratory illnesses
due to traditional open wood cooking fires, as well as improve the
quality of life, especially for women. According to REN21published
in 2015, about 161,913 households are affected by household air
pollution causing 714 deaths per year. Access to modern, clean
energy solutions such as electricity, LPG, and improved cook-stoves
will go a long way to address the hardships and inconveniences
associated with the use of solid fuels for cooking. The promotion of alternative cooking fuels such as
LPG or natural gas involves long-term planning and significant funding for research, demonstrations,
roadshows, policy development, trade deals, and implementation. Currently, other donors are
funding EE stoves in small numbers in Eswatini. As EE awareness and education increases, so too
should the demand for alternatives to open cook fires.
Meetings with relevant stakeholders revealed an increasing interest in EE in transportation, triggered
mostly by the rising cost of conventional fuels and likelihood to increase productive usage of
electricity. Initiatives such as a comprehensive EE transportation policy require detailed planning,
including road layout, transport policy, and other important five (5) to15-year regulations. The
affordability and availability of EVs will affect EE and demand-side management. EVs are not only a
cleaner form of transportation, but the batteries could help reduce peak demand, if the owners of
EV recharge in off-peak hours or through completely RE methods. Planning the regulation and
infrastructure for smart grids along with the management and massive introduction of EVs are long-
term priorities for Eswatini. The effective rollout will change how peak demand is managed.
8. MONITORING, EVALUATION, AND REPORTING
The SEA will be responsible for tracking, coordinating, and overseeing the implementation of this
NEESAP in collaboration with the MNRE. The Agency will develop a robust monitoring and
evaluation framework with clear milestones, indicators, and measurement of MWh saved. The
monitoring plan will ensure the collection of information for use by coordinating institutions and key
stakeholders to evaluate the progress of implementation of the activities and facilitate timely decision
making. Energy balances are gathered annually in Eswatini. The SEA should collect energy balances,
but also information about industry output (e.g. Tons of sugar cane, or beds occupancy) to closely
monitor the evolution of energy intensity per sector.
The SEA will develop a robust monitoring and evaluation framework with clear milestones and indicators for the efficient implementation of the Action Plan and measuring of MWh saved.
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A detailed methodology on how to quantify the improvements in EE is beyond the scope of this
document. However, it is recommended that a reference baseline for key sectors be established and
further agree on general monitoring and evaluation practices. For large individual projects in
industry, agriculture, commerce, and the government, a baseline would need to be calculated to
measure project efficacy. The baseline should be both realistic and viable, considering the utilization
of the equipment i.e., for a hotel’s number of guests per night or for a drink company, the number of
bottles produced per night. The comparison should be made in terms of kWh per unit produced or
service rendered i.e., occupied hotel nights or bottles sold.
The goals defined per sector use the slow growth projections. For example, using the provided
estimates, EE savings measurements could be based on the application of MEPS—comparing
appliances purchase trends, rebate redemption, and electrical usage over the next fifteen years.
Note, equipment that is operationally unviable (at the end of its functional life, no longer permitted
by national law, or otherwise expected to cease operating) does not constitute an acceptable
baseline.
53 | USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
9. APPENDIX A: SELECTION OF INSTITUTIONAL DESIGN
FOR A SEA
SEA implementation arrangements can be divided into three parts—governance, program
administration, and services delivery Certain functions in a publicly funded EE activity must be
performed by a government or quasi-government body, while other functions can be undertaken by
a variety of public or private entities. Program administration could be assigned to the parastatal
utility company or a new or existing agency of national or provincial government or newly formed
autonomous “trusts” within or outside government. Program implementation including delivery of
EE goods and services could be done by any number of private- or public-sector entities, including
retail energy services providers, NGOs, EE centres financed by government, commercial entities
such as ESCOs, or even equipment (appliance) manufacturers or retailers.
TABLE 8: FUNCTIONS OF A SEA AND ITS INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK
FUNCTIONS INSTITUTIONS EXAMPLES
Governance Ministry of Energy
Regulator
Ministry of Finance
How to govern implementation of MEPS
Time of Use Tariffs
Different levels of VAT depending on MEPS
Administration Statutory SEA
Ministry of Energy
Parastatal utility company
Strategy, Action Plan, Goals, M&V
Program Administration
Work collaboratively with government and
other agencies
Leverage private-sector participation in EE
implementation
Effectively engage with EE stakeholders
Service Delivery Private ESCOs
Government funded EE centres
Current ESCOs working in hospitality
Demonstration projects in public buildings
Program administration may be the most demanding EE implementation arrangement. Administrative
duties range from overall program planning and budgeting to procurement of services delivery
providers and evaluations of individual project performance.
Program administration requires a significant repository of technical specialties and organization
capacity. Choosing an EE program administrator should take into account both practical and political
considerations, including the beneficiaries of the program, relationships with the target population,
and existing technical and administrative capacity.
The implementation administrator should be able to accomplish the following:
• Realize economies of scale and scope
• Work collaboratively with government and other agencies
• Leverage private-sector participation in EE implementation
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• Effectively engage with EE stakeholders
• Engage with and influence energy goods and services providers
• Facilitate the role of energy regulators in scaling-up EE
Based on the considerable variability in institutional practices it seems clear that there is no single
administrative structure superior to all the rest. Rather, it is the starting point and nature of the
EE strategy itself that will drive selection of implementation administrator.
For example, in many developed and developing economies it is the vertically integrated utility and
electricity distribution company that have been most successful in designing and implementing cost-
effective and innovative EE programs. These utilities have developed expertise in administering and
sometimes delivering EE programs, not least because of a significant competitive advantage they
enjoy in terms of access to capital, an existing relationship with end users, including billing systems
and market data, a well-known brand name, and technical capacity.
However, utilities can suffer considerable disadvantages as well. In many cases, the regulatory regime
discourages utilities from undertaking direct market interventions to stimulate uptake of EE, because
under cost of service rate making their revenues and profitability are directly tied to end-use sales
volumes. Regulatory arrangements and new business models are often needed to encourage utility
participation in implementing EE.
TABLE 9: FUNCTIONS OF A SEA AS ADMINISTRATOR OF EE PROGRAMS
FUNCTIONS SPECIFIC RESPONSABILITIES COMMENTS
General Administration Manage overall budget for portfolio of programs
Manage portfolio of programs
Maintain centralized information system for reports to regulators, legislators, advisory groups, etc.
Hire and/or manage staff and subcontractors
Develop quality assurance standards
Manage contracts in case some functions are provided by external consultants
Time of Use Tariffs
Different levels of VAT depending on MEPS
Program Development, Planning and Budgeting
Prepare initial technical and/or market reports necessary for program strategies and initial program designs
Prepare program budgets for regulatory approval
The agency should prepare the programs more relevant for Eswatini, e.g., labelling for MEPS compliant products, education and training, etc.
Program delivery and implementation
Communications and Marketing
Implement program services
EE Events, conferences, seminars, flyers, etc.
Energy Audits, financial incentives, contractor training and certification
Program evaluation Develop M&V procedures
Assess program impacts
Evaluate effectiveness
Results Oriented Monitoring protocols
KPI, like kWh saved, CO2 emissions avoided
Cost of saving 1kWh in monetary terms
55 | USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
Utilities are also seen to be somewhat limited in the types of EE programs in which they have a
competitive advantage. Utilities are better suited to implement programs where EE improvements
represent a resource that substitutes for new generation or distribution capacity.
Other types of EE interventions may be better administered by agencies with broad energy-related
responsibilities or agencies focusing on EE only. Certain types of regulatory or control mechanisms,
such as minimum energy performance for equipment and buildings, should be administered by an
agency.
Criteria to decide the best institutional form include compatibility with policy goals, accountability
and oversight consideration, administrative effectiveness, and start-up and transition issues. For each
of these broad criteria, there are specific measures. Some framework comparisons can be made
generically, such as the pros and cons of energy utilities versus government agencies undertaking EE
implementation.
A statutory basis is desirable, as it conveys status and permanency to an energy efficiency agency.
Having a statutory basis confers a definite institutional advantage for an energy efficiency agency,
especially if the legal basis includes provisions for funding or other resources. Successful examples of
this in developing countries include India’s Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE),
Mexico’s National Commission for Energy Efficiency (CONUEE).
There is no single organisational answer. In general, there are five different energy efficiency
organisational types: (i) generalised government energy agencies, (ii) specialised government
EE/clean energy agencies, (iii) independent EE/clean energy authorities or parastatal corporations,
(iv) EE/clean energy NGOs, and (v) EE/clean energy public-private partnerships. Furthermore, there
are more organisational designs waiting to be discovered (see, for example, the recent debate on
statutory authorities and quasi-governmental organisations in the United Kingdom).
Each organisational type has advantages and drawbacks. The choice of organisational type should
reflect historical development, country context, alignment with sector and energy efficiency
objectives, existing institutions and many other factors.
Several critical factors and core competencies contribute to successful energy efficiency agencies.
IEA research shows that strong leadership and good external co-operation, including private sector
involvement is important to any EE organisation. Consensus documents such as strategies, plans
and targets help build consensus and establish expectations. Professionalism and high calibre of
staff, financial independence, and strong incentives for staff and management are all intertwined
under the category of sufficient resources.
Energy efficiency agency design should reflect policy implementation requirements and the
targeted sectors. An agency should be organised around the implementation tasks it is assigned.
The resulting structure will vary according to the type of policy and the targeted sector. Enforcing a
thermal building code, for example, will require quite a different organisation from one
administering a tax incentive. Policy makers should consider implementation responsibility and
capacity whenever promulgating new policies, and periodically review whether energy efficiency
agency organisations are meeting current and future needs.
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1.1. OPTIONS FOR ESWATINI:
During the workshop on February 27th 2020, to validate this NEESAP, the participants reached a
consensus that rather than create a new entity, it would make more sense to analyse two existing
entities that are currently performing some of the functions of a SEA and to recommend the best
suited for the task:
The two entities are: UNESWE-CSER: University of Eswatini Centre for Sustainable Energy Research
and the REAESWA, The Renewable Energy Association of Eswatini.
The UNESWE-CSER is a semi-autonomous centre based in the University of Eswatini, focusing on
research, training and consultancy:
• Education, training, research and capacity development: provide energy education, train
energy artisans, conduct energy related research, organize workshops and specialized short
courses on energy for the policy makers, trade institutions and other energy stakeholders;
• Solar photovoltaic systems characterisation: conduct solar photovoltaic systems
characterisation;
• Training for accreditation: develop and provide training for certification programmes for the
installation of various energy consuming systems and installation of renewable energy
technologies such as solar PV, small wind turbine and biogas plants;
• Solar thermal: conduct research on solar water heaters, solar crop/food dryers, and solar
water purification systems;
• Bioenergy: conduct research on solid biomass, bio-liquid fuels and biogas;
• Wind energy: conduct improvements on wind data and identify suitable wind turbines for
Eswatini;
• Hydropower: carryout studies on appropriate hydroelectric generating systems;
• Energy efficiency and conservation: gather information on and develop best practices on the
promotion of new energy efficient and conservation technologies, practices and energy cost
minimizations;
• Alternative energy sources: conduct research on possibilities of waste to energy and
geothermal power;
• Energy system analysis: carryout studies on energy supply/demand dynamics, data mining,
behavioural aspect of energy use, energy infrastructure analysis, geopolitical aspect of
energy use, and energy in transportation systems;
• Energy Audits: conduct measurement and verification for systems where energy audits are
carried out;
• Measurement and verification: provide services for measurement and verification of energy
systems;
• Computational modelling for energy: uses computational modelling for various applications
including energy demand scenarios, climate change mitigation and adaptation scenarios,
diffusion of energy technologies, energy dynamics, etc.; and
• Testing protocols and methodologies: develop testing protocols and methodologies for
future fuels and energy systems.
The REAESWA (Renewable Energy Association of Eswatini) was established in 1998 under an EU-
funded project in the Southern African Renewable Energy Information Network with the assistance
57 | USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
of the Eswatini MNRE. REAESWA which holds NGO status, acts as a PPP entity. It supports RE
projects and EE initiatives such as the promotion of LED bulbs and the use of solar water heaters.
REASWA's funding is obtained through projects, with 30 percent allocated for administration costs.
Combining RE and EE efforts under the auspices of a single body is an accepted practice. It facilitates
the cross-sector adaptation of new technologies which encompass RE and EE elements. For example,
solar rooftop PV panels can be considered both, RE and EE as they help to decrease demand. Many
RE technologies may also be considered EE as they result in the more efficient use of the fuel, i.e.,
co-generation. The increased use of energy storage over the next fifteen years will make the RE/EE
differentiation harder as systems as many electric vehicles (EVs) will include batteries, thus
controlling peak demand and increasing grid optimization.
It’s important to mention that given its current structure, the REAESWA has some gaps:
• It lacks sufficient full-time staff, that should be addressed with government and donor budget
support
• Institutional mandate to propose and enact MEPS, and recommend fiscal and financial
incentives associated with each MEPS
• Data gathering and analyses to set target and M&V procedures to track progress versus
targets
• Mandate to represent Eswatini in regional and international EE organizations like SACREEE
and become the main implementing agent of regional EE initiatives.
The next table compares the functions described for a SEA, and the current tasks performed by
each entity and its potential
TABLE 10: ANALYSIS OF FUNCTIONS OF A SEA AND COMPARISON WITH EXISTING ENTITIES
FUNCTIONS UNESWE-CSER REAESWA
General Administration Manage overall budget for portfolio of programs
Apparently UNESWE capacity for budget management and administration is better than REAESWA as it would follow similar procedures already in place at the University
General administration capabilities are self-reported weak. “Lack of attractive annual financial statements subject to external audit to lure potential funders or donors. Lack of internal accounting guidelines and human resource systems”
Program Development, Planning and Budgeting
CSER reports the development of several programs including training in EE and RE and MEPS, some of the key actions proposed in this NEESAP.
REASWA lists four projects, but none in MEPS nor training.
It does not seem any program was designed by REASWA
Program delivery and implementation
CSER reports 11 programs successfully implemented since its creation two years ago
REASWA lists four programs implemented, three of them for residential sector
Program evaluation No experience listed No experience listed
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10. APPENDIX B: ACTIONS RESPONSIBILITY MATRIX
SHORT TERM – HIGH IMPACT ACTIONS BY 2022
ACTION LEADING INSTITUTION
START DATE
END DATE ESTIMATED BUDGET ESTIMATED BENEFITS NEXT STEPS
Sustainable Energy Agency by merging two existing entities
Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources
Mar 2020
Aug 2021 Depending on the legal form. At least three employees full time and seconded international expert:
US$ 350,000
In combination with MEPS, estimated savings by 2028 of at least 120 GWh per year, or approximately, US$15,6 million
Identification of supporting donor
Business plan by donor and MNRE.
Selection of local staff and international seconded expert(s).
MEPS for Lighting and Appliances, starting by refrigerators
Sustainable Energy Agency
Mar 2020 Ongoing Adoption of MEPS
Design and monitoring costs
US$ 250,000
In combination with MEPS, estimated savings by 2028 of at least 120 GWh per year, or approximately, US$15,6 million
Leverage SACREE-UNIDO Energy Efficient Lighting and Appliances program.
MEPS for refrigeration and lighting first
Financial and Fiscal Incentives: Different VAT levels and attraction of EE facilities
Sustainable Energy Agency
Ministry of Finance
Mar 2020 Ongoing Consultants to perform detailed study of budget impact so its budget neutral
US$ 450,000
It should generate at least the $600,000 estimated for the SEA and MEPS (in case there was not donor support)
Technical Assistant could be provided by different donors, including USAID.
Gradual implementation including massive communication campaign
Introduce Time of Use tariffs for residential users, as this segment is more flexible than other to reduce peak demand
Sustainable Energy Agency
Energy Regulator
Ministry o Finance
Mar 2020 Ongoing Consultants to perform detailed study of budget impact so its budget neutral
US$ 550,000
Delay of construction of new peak plants
Savings on paying peak tariff
Support of a tariff expert.
Position the tariff as a way to save money rather than a penalty
It should include public opinion campaign
Training on EE technologies and Energy Audits
Sustainable Energy Agency
June 2020 Ongoing TBD Review programs proposed in Appendix E
Engage with potential TA donors
Program to educate energy auditors
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MEDIUM TERM ACTIONS BY 2028
ACTION LEADING INSTITUTION START DATE
END DATE
ESTIMATED BUDGET
NEXT STEPS
MEPS for other equipment and Appliances, including probably off-grid appliances too.
Sustainable Energy Agency
Feb 2024 Ongoing TBD, Leverage first phase MEPS experience to add other appliances, like Air Conditioning, and industrial MEPS starting by electric motors.
MEPS for Solar Home Systems and Solar Water Heaters
Time of Use reform for agriculture users
Sustainable Energy Agency
Energy Regulator
Ministry of Finance
Feb 2024 Ongoing TBD Solve issue of water billing by plot size
Design prepared with the support of tariff and sugar cane production expert.
Position the tariff as a way to save money rather than a penalty
ESCO regulation and incentives
Sustainable Energy Agency
Ministry of Finance
Feb 2024 Ongoing TBD Regulation allowing for long term service contracts in public facilities.
ESCO contract models and ESCO financing mechanisms
Compulsory green building codes
Sustainable Energy Agency (SEA)
Feb 2024 Feb 2025 TBD After a few years of experience, the SEA should be leading the adoption of international green building codes customized for Eswatini
Pilot EE projects in the public sector
Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources
Ministry of Finance
Feb 2024 Ongoing Selected projects according to results of first energy audits
The first energy auditors trained with the program developed locally should work on their first projects in selected high consumption public buildings with international support
USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN | 60
LONG-TERM AND ONGOING ACTIONS
ACTION LEADING INSTITUTION START DATE END DATE ESTIMATED
BUDGET COMMENTS
EE embedded in the curriculum of schools, high schools, technical colleges and universities
Ministry of Education
Sustainable Energy Agency
Ongoing Ongoing TBD, USAID could support sharing and or producing programs for other countries.
EE finance facility Sustainable Energy Agency Ongoing Ongoing TBD, most likely none
Facilitate the establishment of an EE Finance Facility like SUNREF Namibia or SUNREF South Africa (AFD)
MEPS for other vehicles, including EV. Regulations for storage trading
EE for the transport sector
Sustainable Energy Agency Feb 2030 Ongoing TBD, Long-term planning needs a high level of coordination of a cross-sectorial agency.
MEPS for cooking and heating wood.
Sustainable Energy Agency Feb 2030 Ongoing TBD, Consumers can make better choices about what time of wood to buy and from where. This system has been successfully implemented in Chile
LPG and NG development Sustainable Energy Agency (SEA) Feb 2030 Ongoing TBD Fuel switching for remaining wood users to LPG/NG. Less risk of respiratory diseases especially for women and children
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11. APPENDIX C: STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS KEY
TAKEAWAYS
INDUSTRY
Awareness about the importance of EE in the industrial sector of Eswatini seems higher than in
other sectors, but there is a lack of energy auditors or ESCOs that can provide professional advice
on which EE investments have the shortest payback and the biggest returns. The consulting team
visited textile industries and beverage industries and found EE is of concern, but no energy
management systems or energy monitoring systems were in place to make proper decisions about
where to invest first. The SADC Industrial EE program (SIEEP) is considered by SADC stakeholders
to be important in the implementation of the SADC industrialization efforts through the Industrial
Strategy and Road Map (2015-2063). The SIEEP –Phase 1 Study focused on the manufacturing sector
and found that some industries have been underperforming due to, among other factors, shortage of
adequate energy supply and high costs resulting from inefficient use of energy.
TOURISM
The project team met with several hospitality companies as well with the Ministry of Tourism. The
situation was similar to industry, in that there was a concern about EE but a lack of expertise to
identify opportunities. One significant exception was Mountain Inn, which showed how hiring the
relatively inexpensive services of an energy auditor and buying some basic energy monitoring
equipment they were able to make the best EE investment decisions and reduce their energy load by
an impressive 30 percent. Mountain Inn is an outstanding example of what Eswatini needs: industry
education, certification of energy auditors, clear regulations on time of use tariffs, and staff and
management EE awareness.
In Eswatini, as unfortunately in most countries, it is common to enter a meeting room or hotel
room where the thermostat is pre-set to 16° Celsius, well below the comfort zone. Regulations
limiting the minimum temperature in summer and maximum temperature allowed in winter for
HVAC systems have been proven quite successfully in other countries and should create a win/win
scenario where the industry and the country, in general, become more efficient.
An energy management program for tourism was implemented in 2012. There are currently no
sustainability benchmarks for the tourism sector. There is, however, a sustainable tourism policy in
place—a resources grading framework could be easily developed and linked to sustainability
benchmarks.
CERTIFICATIONS AND MINIMUM EFFICIENCY PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
There is a need to coordinate MEPS for appliances and lighting products with South Africa and the
SADC region in general. In this regard, SACREEE is launching a regional initiative that will also
include Eswatini. Imports of substandard appliances, lack of EE testing laboratories, and other related
issues will be better solved by through the regional approach, but there could be some steps to take
if a regional approach is delayed.
The is no EE certification system in place for commercial buildings, nor residential homes. There are
a lack of trained and certified energy auditors and institutions that could help in the funding of
energy audits.
EFFICIENT WOOD STOVES AND OTHER COOKING FUELS
Efficient wood cooking stoves have a positive impact on reducing the quantity of wood burned,
decreasing the risk of respiratory illnesses due to traditional open wood cooking fires, and increasing
the quality of life specifically for women, who need less time to collect the wood.
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Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) is also another fuel that is more efficient and less polluting than wood
or electricity for cooking (as most electricity is Eskom imported, generated with coal).
EE IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR
One of the biggest consumers of electricity in Eswatini is the Royal Police. Eswatini has a very well
managed collection policy, based on extensive use of pre-paid meters, and those entities that do not
pay may be disconnected. Even if there are no formal EE objectives for public sector buildings, there
is an interest in keeping energy consumption budgets under control. EE programs must be
systematically implemented in the public sector to reduce operational costs, greenhouse gas
emissions, and to set an example for the industrial and agricultural sectors. Specific targets related to
existing baselines should be set for various public sector infrastructure, i.e., public buildings (prisons,
schools, hospitals, police stations), water treatment facilities, water reticulation infrastructure, etc. It
is important that energy savings based on existing baselines in the public sector to be quantified in
terms of monetary value so that any funds saved can be earmarked for other service delivery
objectives.
There are opportunities to implement energy efficiency initiatives in public lighting. Public lighting is
managed by municipalities, and no ESCO is operating or investing in energy-efficient public lighting,
although Matsapha municipality has been investigating the possibility. Improving the management of
public lighting, i.e., not keeping streetlights on during the day, is another initiative that can be easily
implemented. Improving the maintenance of public infrastructure and implementing incentives for
public sector entities to be energy efficient are further quick wins that can promote energy
efficiency.
AGRICULTURE SECTOR – IRRIGATION Energy efficiency in pumping for irrigation needs to be investigated. Currently, the payment is per
hectare instead of m3 of water, which does not benefit farmers who have more efficient irrigation
and pumping systems.
DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT
Time of use tariffs are usually a very good instrument for demand-side management, but it seems
major consumers like sugar cane plantations and large industry have mostly fixed loads, and
production and use of electricity are planned according to the production plants. They are,
therefore, unable to use time of use tariffs. An investigation into the synchronizing of time of use
tariffs with irrigation systems needs to be undertaken. Studies on the use of solar for pumping for
irrigation are also required.
EMBEDDED GENERATION AND POWER WHEELING
Net metering rules and instruments for wheeling of power need to be developed.
EE EDUCATION
Education on EE is an important issue that needs to be addressed, both at schools, technical colleges,
and universities. The education of energy auditors is critical to identify EE opportunities and finance
for EE projects.
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12. APPENDIX D: LIST OF STAKEHOLDERS MEETINGS
This list has been compiled by chronological order of the meetings.
1. Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy - July 23, 2019
2. Ministries and Departments – July 23, 2019
3. Eswatini Tourism Authority - July 23, 2019
4. Eswatini Electricity Company – July 23, 2019
5. Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority - July 23, 2019
6. Eswatini Water and Agricultural enterprise – July 24, 2019
7. Ubombo Sugar Limited - JULY 24, 2019
8. Royal Swazi Sun Hotel – July 25, 2019
9. Matsapha Municipality – July 25, 2019
10. Eswatini Beverages (Inbev) – July 25, 2019
11. Tex Ray – July 25, 2019
12. Solar Care – July 25, 2019
13. Eswatini Water Services Corporation – July 26, 2019
14. Construction Industry Council – July 25, 2019
15. Ministry of energy - October 7, 2019
16. Eswatini Revenue Authority - October 7, 2019
17. National Curriculum Centre - October 8, 2019
18. Swaziland Standards Authority (SWASA) – October 8, 2019
19. Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) – October 8, 2019
20. Renewable Energy Association (REASWA) – October 9, 2019
21. Expression Architects – October 9, 2019
22. Mountain Inn – October 10, 2019
23. Energy Auditors - Ecofriendly solutions – October 10, 2019
24. University of Eswatini - October 10, 2019
25. Eswatini Banking Association - October 11, 2019
26. Stakeholder workshop
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13. APPENDIX E: ENERGY EFFICIENCY GLOSSARY
DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT measures aim to reduce customer energy demand at times of
peak electricity demand to help address system reliability issues, reduce the need to dispatch higher-
cost, less-efficient generating units to meet electricity demand and delay the need to construct costly
new generating or transmission and distribution capacity. Demand response programs can include
dynamic pricing/tariffs, price- responsive demand bidding, contractually obligated and voluntary
curtailment, and direct load control/cycling (FERC, 2017).
ENERGY AUDIT OR ENERGY ASSESSMENT are investigations of all facets of an organization’s
historical and current energy use to identify and quantify areas of energy waste within the
organization’s activities. It is best carried out by an accredited energy auditor.
An Energy Audit establishes the baseline for any improvements in an organization's energy use. It
provides a comprehensive and systematic method for targeting cost-effective efficiency gains. There
are many examples where clients have been able to obtain savings without requiring any significant
capital investment. An energy auditor should work with their clients to ensure those savings are
achieved and sustained in the long term. The objective is to have all identified improvement projects
pay out within two to four years, equivalent to a return on investment of between 25–50 percent.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY reduces the amount of energy needed to provide the same or improved
level of service to the consumer in an economically efficient way. Common policies include resource
and technology standards, codes, and incentives that can advance the deployment of energy-efficient
technologies and practices across all sectors of the economy.
ENERGY STORAGE AS EE MASSACHUSETTS CASE Until now, efficiency in electricity sector
has meant using fewer electrons. While a good and important goal, it is no longer sufficient. The
definition of efficiency must now be expanded to include the concept of peak demand reduction. For
the electric utility customer, it means that in addition to using fewer electrons, we must now learn
to use them at different times. The good news is that customers may be able to realize additional
economic benefits from reducing demand peaks, on top of the benefits of reduced net consumption.
The enormous cost of these peaks shows the economic opportunity offered by embracing peak
demand reduction. For example, in its recent State of Charge report, Massachusetts found that 40
percent of the state’s annual cost for electricity is spent on just the top 10 percent peak demand
hours in the year. Viewed this way, the inefficiency, and cost of overbuilding the electrical system to
accommodate occasional peaks became glaringly obvious.
The high cost of peak power is passed on to commercial customers in the form of demand charges
on their electric bills. For medium- to large-sized commercial customers, it is not uncommon for
demand charges to account for anywhere from 30–70 percent of their monthly electric bill. The
demand charges are based on the customer’s highest 15-minute peak load each month. Traditional
efficiency measures reduce overall consumption, and solar PV over roofs can reduce costs through
net metering. However, neither is effective at peak demand management.
Energy storage can give customers, unlike traditional, passive efficiency measures and renewable
generation, a tool to manage demand peaks. In turn, this reduces system-wide inefficiencies by
flattening peaks and filling valleys in the regional electric demand curve. When regional demand
curves start to look more like a highway and less like a roller coaster, they have realized the
efficiency gains that peak demand reduction can provide.
Massachusetts recognized the importance of peak demand reduction as early as 2008 when the
Green Communities Act specified that efficiency program administrators must seek “all available
65 | USAID SAEP | ESWATINI NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
energy efficiency and demand reduction resources that are cost-effective or less expensive than
supply.” Since then, additional legislation further specified that cost-effective energy storage could be
added to the efficiency program.
The genius of the Massachusetts model is that it demonstrates how states can harness the enormous
resources of existing energy efficiency budgets— some $9 billion nationwide— to compensate
customers for the use of new technologies, like battery storage to shift peak demand. Massachusetts
storage customers will receive a payment from utilities when they respond to a utility signal to
discharge their batteries behind the meter. In reducing their demand for grid power, they will also
contribute to flattening demand peaks across the region. The customer incentives in the program
will help households and businesses install battery storage by allowing them to monetize a service
for which no market yet exists.
ENERGY PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING (EPC) is a form of financing for capital
improvements which allows funding for energy upgrades from cost reductions. Under an EPC
arrangement, an external organization implements a project to deliver an EE or a RE project and
uses the stream of income from the cost savings, or the renewable energy produced, to repay the
costs of the project—including the costs of the investment. Essentially the ESCO will not receive its
payment unless the project delivers energy savings as expected.
ENERGY SERVICE COMPANIES (ESCOs) differ from the traditional energy efficiency engineers
or equipment suppliers as they can also finance or arrange the financing for the operation, and their
remuneration is directly tied to the energy savings achieved. Therefore, ESCOs accept some degree
of risk for the achievement of improved EE in a user’s facility and have their payment for the services
delivered based (either in whole or at least in part) on the achievement of those energy efficiency
improvements.
The three main characteristics of an ESCO are:
1. A guaranteed energy savings and/or provision of the same level of energy service at a
lower cost. A performance guarantee can take several forms. It can revolve around the
actual flow of energy savings from a project, can stipulate that the energy savings will be
sufficient to repay monthly debt service costs, or that the same level of energy service is
provided for less money;
2. The remuneration of an ESCOs is directly tied to the energy savings achieved; and
3. They can finance or assist in arranging the financing for the operation of an energy system
by providing a savings guarantee.
NEGAWATT is a negative megawatt—a megawatt of power saved by increasing efficiency or
reducing consumption. Physicist Amory Lovins coined the term and introduced it in a speech in
1989. Negawatt power is being implemented in many states in the U.S. and is emerging as an
international strategy to reduce energy consumption. Test negawatt auctions began in 1999 in, and
more than a dozen utility exchanges were in existence already by 2000.
US ANTISMOKING MODEL Since the 1980s in the United States, multiple mass media campaigns
designed to influence children's attitudes and thus, household behaviour related to smoking
prevention have been run on national and state levels. Massachusetts launched its tobacco control
program in 1994 at a time when youth smoking rates were on the rise. Youth smoking rates in
Massachusetts mirrored smoking rates nationwide from 1993 to 1995 and then declined faster in
Massachusetts than in the rest of the nation from 1997 to 1999. In a four year follow up survey of
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Massachusetts youth, Siegel and Biener show that 12–13-year-olds exposed to the Massachusetts
campaign were less likely to become smokers than teens who were not exposed.
14. APPENDIX F: SUGGESTED CURRICULA FOR EE
TRAINING
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TRAINING FOR MUNICIPAL
ADMINISTRATORS
http://www.cityenergy.org.za/uploads/resource_434.pdf
SAVING ENERGY COLORING BOOK FOR KIDS
https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/consumer/saving-energy-home.pdf
CERTIFIED ENERGY AUDITOR (ASHRAE)
• The Certified Energy Auditor (CEATM) certification program focuses on audits for
commercial and industrial buildings. The CEA certification is issued by the Association of
Energy Engineers based in Atlanta, US, and the program is based on ASHRAE standards.
This three-day training is designed to expand knowledge of energy auditing and serve as a
preparatory course for AEE's CEATM examination. It provides the fundamentals needed to
assess how energy is used by facilities and identify consumption reduction potential. The
course also covers useful calculation methods and presents practical examples. The
examination is administered on the morning of the fourth day.
The objectives of the course are to:
- Raise the professional standards of those engaged in energy auditing.
- Provide structure to the practice of energy auditing based on ASHRAE definitions for
audits ranging from preliminary to investment grade.
- Provide the recognized CEA™ credential to professionals who: have appropriate related
experience; demonstrate knowledge of the principles and practices of energy auditing; and
successfully pass the certification examination.
• Overview of Energy Auditing
o Typical audit shortcomings
o ASHRAE Levels I, II and III Audits
• Methodology for Level I, II and Investment Grade Audits
• Auditing tools and computer software
o Instrumentation
o Software applications
o Introduction to RETScreen
• Project Financing
o Project financial assessment
o Basic organizational finances
o Financing options
• Energy Fundamentals for Energy Auditors
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• Facility Systems and Lighting
o Overview of facility energy systems
o Lighting energy management opportunities
o Lighting audit
• HVAC and Chillers
o HVAC and chiller system EMO’s
o HVAC audit
• Electrical Systems, Motors and Drives
o Motor types and efficiency ratings
o Efficiency in driven loads
o Advantages of speed control
o Motor and drive EMOs and audits
• Boilers, Compressed Air and Industrial Systems
o Boilers and steam distribution systems
o Compressed air systems
o Overview of other industrial processes
• Operations and Maintenance
o The importance of planned maintenance
o EMOs from operations and maintenance
• Writing Successful Audit Reports
o Structure of effective reports
• Writing for the readers
CERTIFIED RETSCREEN® EXPERT
RETScreen Expert Software is an intelligent decision support tool to enable stakeholders to
rapidly identify, assess, optimize and track the performance of clean energy investments over
the entire project life cycle. The software can be used to evaluate:
• Clean energy options
• The energy production, savings and costs
• Financial viability and risk for renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies
• GHG Emission reductions
• The performance of implemented projects
CERTIFIED ENERGY MANAGER (ASHRAE)
The Certified Energy Manager (CEM®) certification is the most recognised designation in
energy management and provides a wide range of benefits to help you thrive in your
occupation.
This in-depth five-day training is ideal for professionals who seek a thorough program that
covers the technical, economic and regulatory aspects of effective energy management. More
than 13,000 professionals in more than 35 countries are now CEM® certified. This training
provides a comprehensive forum with problem solving activities for those who want to gain
broader understanding of the latest energy cost reduction techniques and strategies. This
program is also ideal for professionals who require CEM® certification as recognition of
their expertise. On the afternoon of day five, the Certified Energy Manager examination is
administered.
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15. LIST OF PARTICIPANTS NEESAP VALIDATION
WORKSHOP FEB 27, 2020
VENUE:
ROYAL VILLAS
DATE: 27/02/2020
NAME
NAME OF
ORGANISATION CONTACTS
EMAIL ADDRESS
Jose Luis Bobes SAEP +27 78 3992511
Babile Gama Defence 76933142
Almon Zwane E.C.O.T. 76353476
Sipho A. Dlamini ECOT 76124449
Sonke Dlamini ESERA 76025267
Lindokuhle
Simelane ESERA 76259451
Mzwandile Msibi ESERA 78022888
Machawe Made Ezulwini Municipality 76610068
Xolile Mphanga Ezulwini Municipality 78686062
Yamkelo Madi Ezulwini Municipality 76723493
Fisokuhle
Ndlangamandla Ezulwini Town Council 76791943
Dumisani Hlope H.M.L.S. 76122953
Lawy Modern M3 International SZ
+27 82 561
1031/79776418
Mzwandile Thwala MNRE 79526135
Zwela Ngozo MNRE 76541863
Mandla Vilakati MNRE 76063652
Takhona Khumalo MOA 79355595
Lungile P.
Shongwe MOH 76062925
Sifiso Mavuso MOH 76345062
Zandile
Ntshalintshali MOPS 76177393
Busisiwe Rejoice
Simelane MOPS - MSD
76048126/7909711
0
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Dlamini Johanne MoPWT
76143638/2409911
5
[email protected]/johnbhanyaza3
Amos Maziya MTAD 76219265
Msibi Mluleki REAESWA 76917613
Livingstone
Dlamini
Royal Swazi Spar
Holdings 78143040
livingstone.dlamini@suninternationa
l.com
Hilda dos-Ramos
Royal Swazi Spar
Holdings 76444642
Jorry
Mwenechanya SAEP +260977771980
jmwenechanya@southernafricaener
gy.org
Maria Mbengashe SAEP +27 82 781 2543
mmbengashe@southernafricaenergy
.org
Sifiso Dlamini Tifiso Energy 79922051
Dlamini Neliswa TQM Textile 76622937
Brian Lu TQM Textile 76027570
Mduduzi
Mathunjwa UNESWA-CSER 76155719
Dumisani Dlamini US Embassy 78029689
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16. REFERENCES
Best Practices for the financing of Energy Efficiency and self-use Renewable Energy in small
developing countries, Jose Luis Bobes, South Africa, 2016
Department of Energy EE regulations South Africa, 2015
Development of a tariff support mechanism and a connection charge policy for Swaziland, SERA
2016
EE Labelling. Southern African Renewable and Alternative Energy Association (SAAEA). Accessed 30
October 2019, at https://www.saaea.org/ee-labeling.html#
Energy Efficient Lighting and Appliances UNIDO, 2019
Energy Performance and Labelling Requirements for Specific Electrical Appliances and Equipment,
Department of Energy South Africa, 2012
Eswatini Electricity Company Annual Report 2018
Eswatini Energy Efficiency Policy 2018
Eswatini Energy Programme Concept Note, Green Climate Fund, November 2018
Eswatini National Development Plan 2019-2022
Eswatini Standards 2019
IEA (2010), "Energy Efficiency Governance: Handbook", IEA, Paris
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