Peace Renewable Energy Credits (P-RECs), recently purchased by Google from Congolese solar developer Nuru, are supporting first-time electrification that is aiding conservation and enhancing human security for rural communities near Garamba National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
Here’s why this project matters:
First, P-REC sales revenue helped Nuru to finance and construct a socially transformative renewable energy project. Less than 1% of rural communities in DRC have reliable access to energy. The distributed solar minigrids, which were officially inaugurated on June 9, 2021, provide new electrification infrastructure in the rural villages of Tadu and Faradje. More than 300 households, small businesses, and public institutions - comprising 1,900 direct beneficiaries - will have access to 24/7 power. Reliable and affordable electricity access will increase livelihood opportunities that provide alternatives to the poaching and artisanal mining economies for tens of thousands of residents in these underserved communities. It will also bolster climate resilience by reducing reliance on diesel for generators, while concurrently supporting DRC’s nascent renewable energy sector. Greater development and improved security conditions could support an ecotourism industry in and around Garamba National Park.
Second, Google’s involvement in the project is part of its larger commitment to responsible mining, and its P-REC purchase was part of a wider package of support for these communities. Google’s P-REC purchase - the second P-REC sale to date – demonstrates that P-RECs provide a viable entry point for companies to support high impact renewable energy projects.
Third, the transaction represents the first multi-year forward purchase of P-RECs. Google purchased an aggregated volume of certificates tied to several years of generation in advance of system commissioning. This financed a share of the project’s capital requirements, demonstrating that P-REC forward purchases can contribute to bringing new renewable energy projects online in communities where it matters.
Fourth, the deal deepens EPP’s partnership with Congolese solar developer Nuru, whose ambitious mission in the DRC is to provide 5 million delighted clients with world-class connectivity by 2024. EPP is proud to have launched the P-REC market with Nuru in 2020 and looks forward to supporting Nuru’s 39MW project pipeline of mini-grids in DRC though P-REC sales.
Fifth, the first two P-REC purchases were made respectively by Microsoft and Google, two RE100 companies recognized as leaders in sustainability and in environmental and social responsibility. This represents a growing trend among companies looking to have greater social impact through their renewable energy procurement decisions. We believe other companies will soon follow.
Photo by: Thierry Normand
About the Project
The distributed solar mini-grids will provide new electrification to energy poor communities in rapidly growing areas in northeastern Congo adjacent to Garamba National Park, one of the oldest national parks in Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park, which has one of the last large populations of wild elephants, works to combat a decades-long struggle against wildlife poaching and the illegal ivory trade. At the same time, economic opportunities are increasing as more people move to the region in search of job opportunities in artisanal and large-scale mining. However, artisanal mining endangers the biodiversity of Garamba National Park and exacerbates tensions between local communities and industrial mining operations. The increased renewable energy access provided by the mini-grids will support these rural populations by enabling economic development opportunities beyond artisanal mining and the poaching economy; supporting conservation and preserving the biodiversity of the park by reducing deforestation; increasing safety and security through nighttime lighting; reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants from existing diesel-based energy sources; and improving overall quality of life and well-being.
A coalition of other partners were involved in supporting the mini-grid project come to fruition including the Congo Power Initiative, which comprises Google, GivePower Foundation, Resolve and Silfab Solar; UC Berkeley’s Renewable and Appropriate Energy; the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN); African Parks; and the European Union.