This article announces the adoption of harmonised minimum energy performance standards for air conditioners and refrigerators in the 16 member countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It also explains the process by which these harmonised standards were developed and adopted.
This article explores how the Central American Integration System (SICA) has helped lead the way to improve energy efficiency in appliances at the regional level, and the opportunities that further harmonisation could generate.
This brief explains the importance and benefits of an internationally harmonized quality assurance framework for small scale solar photovoltaic (pico-PV) products. Benefits are outlined for specific stakeholder groups, and a summary of the Lighting Global Quality Assurance (QA) Framework is provided for reference.
This brief explains the role of product testing in standard-setting for off-grid solar products. It provides recommendations based on good practices and explains how the Lighting Global Quality Assurance Program can help governments implement and enforce standards.
This policy brief provides guidance on the importance of quality standards for stand-alone solar products; how to develop and adopt standards, and the current status in Africa; common challenges encountered in this process; and market surveillance; as well as recommendations for governments.
This guidance note outlines the advantages and risks of pumped storage hydropower projects, and provides advice for how projects can be structured and funded.
This report assesses the effectiveness of women in energy networks worldwide and offers best practices and recommendations for networks under development or those aiming to enhance their impact.
This guide by the Covenant of Mayors of Sub-Saharan Africa shows that urban planning tends to be gender blind, with the design of urban street lighting as a key example. It provides a manual, aimed at African cities, on how to develop gender-responsive public lighting projects. English: https://comssa.org/download/rxeWs6zcOXbTl8qRidGZ9nCB7EFAI4Pa/Gender-sensitive-public-lighting.pdf French: https://comssa.org/download/U3kjdTBHqV6FGKfoI71EgLY2wZrSvtz8/Eclairage-public-sensible-au-genre.pdf
This report highlights the importance of sector coupling as a key source of flexibility that cities can explore to stabilise power grid operations when integrating high shares of variable renewable energy sources. It presents a range of sector coupling opportunities available for use in cities, including self-consumption of variable RE sources, the role of thermal […]
This guide provides principles and step-by-step instructions for the establishment of regional/national networks for women working in energy