[CLOSED] Energy Policy Group is looking for experts on spatial planning for renewable energy sources and land hierarchy conflict

Context

The RENewLand project, funded by the European Climate Initiative (EUKI), is implemented by Energy Policy Group (EPG) together with WWF Bulgaria, WWF-World Wide Fund for Nature Hungary (WWF Hungary), WWF Romania and Centre for Energy Research. Its main objectives include enabling a multi-actor and multi-sector approach in the process of designating national acceleration areas for solar and onshore wind energy and demonstrating science-based methodologies for the integrated spatial planning of these areas in three pilot regions in Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary.

 Description of the assignment

Energy Policy Group is looking for experts with technical expertise on spatial planning for renewable energy sources and land hierarchy conflict, to elaborate an analysis on best practices and offer support for an experience exchange webinar.

The scope of work includes the elaboration of an analysis on good practices from 3 European countries on practices regarding integrated spatial planning for terrestrial renewable energy. This analysis will be presented in a written report that will explain how spatial planning for RE deployment is implemented in practice in the selected countries and what are the existing methodologies used for the identification of spatial constraints (e.g. land use categories) and for developing social criteria.

After the elaboration of the report, a regional experience exchange webinar with relevant stakeholders (including authorities) will be organized to present the results of the analysis and discuss the case studies selected. The contracted experts are expected to contribute with materials and presentations for this webinar.

 Scope of work:

1. Write a minimum 25 pages report on good practice approaches in 3 countries selected according to the criteria elaborated by the beneficiary (Energy Policy Group).The report will be elaborated under the supervision of Energy Policy Group.

The following criteria will be taken into consideration for preparing the report:

• Implementation of the provisions of the Renewable Energy Directive 2018/2001/EU regarding the EU permitting rules, as well as other permitting rules under the Commission Proposal 2022/0160 (RED IV);
• The selected countries for analysis should have already designated the areas for accelerating renewable energy deployments or are in the last stages of the process;
• The level of participation of citizens and civil society in the decision-making process for the permitting rules in the selected countries;
• Occurrence of conflicts at the development of RES infrastructure due to weak safeguards for biodiversity (exclusion criterion of such countries);
• The selected countries have mapped the areas with highest RES potential (separately for onshore wind and solar energy) and have later applied the environmental and biological constraints have identified the low-conflict areas;
• The selected EU countries have witnessed a rapid growth of RES capacities (solar and onshore wind) over the past 10 years.
• One of the selected EU countries has structural similarities with CEE countries (high share of fossil fuels in the energy mix etc.).

2. Support Energy Policy Group with materials and a PowerPoint presentation on the regional experience exchange webinar organized within the project:

• Prepare and deliver a presentation with the findings from the report on good practice approaches.
• Participate actively (with questions and answers) at the debates during the webinar.

Calendar:

Selected experts will receive detailed templates for all required written outputs, as well as guidance for conducting all required activities. Draft written outputs and the design of activities will be reviewed internally by Energy Policy Group and the experts will be expected to take this feedback into consideration and make the necessary adjustments. The experts will actively participate in associated webinars and events organized for the project.

We are open to applications from individual people, groups of people as well as institutions – for collective applications, the overall experience in the CVs sent will be assessed. Please ensure that you include all experts who will be contributing to this task.

Indicative timeline of the assignment

8^th April 2024- 31^st June 2024

Please note that the indicated period includes the finalization of all above activities, including any relevant feedback rounds with Energy Policy Group.

Indicative budget for the assignment

Based on the workload and depending on expert’s experience, the maximum budget for the contract is EUR 20,000 (gross, including all applicable taxes and contributions).

Expert selection process

Please send your CV and price offer, as well as brief note outlining your suitability for the role and a workplan for the deliverables, no later than April 5th to alina.arsani@enpg.ro/ mihai.constantin@enpg.ro.

Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis. Applicants may be asked to participate in a call to further discuss the assignment and suitability for the role. Upon selection of the expert, Energy Policy Group will send any relevant templates and instructions for delivery of the above tasks.

The final selection of experts will be made according to the following criteria:

• 40% – proposed price;
• 50% – experience on integrated spatial planning of renewable energy or comparable experience;
• 10% – experience on designing and organising online events, especially on the topic of integrated spatial planning of renewable energy.