With the issue of how to get the private sector on board for climate financing high on the agenda at COP22 in Marrakesh, the first projects of a new fund supported by the European Investment Bank (EIB) – the Catalyst MENA Clean Energy Fund (Catalyst) – are now taking off. This fund will make it much easier for companies and governments in the region to invest in and benefit from renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. The Catalyst fund is the newest investment of the Global Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund (GEEREF), which is backed by the EIB Group. With EUR 20.7 billion invested in climate action projects in 2015, the EIB is the world’s largest multilateral climate financier and the bank of the European Union.

Initially, the Catalyst fund is investing in Jordan, with the aim of expanding its activities to Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt in the future. In Jordan, it is providing an opportunity for the private sector to make use of a recently introduced “wheeling law”. This means that a company which knows they will need a certain amount of power annually, in one or several locations, can build a renewable energy power plant to cover such needs wherever it makes most sense and in a completely different location from where the company’s premises are situated. Under this regulation, the company only pays for the transmission costs of the energy across the grid.

With equity financing from the Catalyst fund and their partners, construction is due to start in 2017 on up to 5 such solar plants for the telecommunications company Orange. These solar plants, with an expected capacity of up to 34MW, will cover the vast majority of the company’s electricity needs in Jordan. 

The new fund, which currently has more than USD 47 million to invest, is also backed by FMO – the Dutch development bank, Finnfund – the Finnish Fund for Industrial Cooperation, and DEG – a subsidiary of KfW, the German development finance institution.

Speaking from the COP22 in Marrakesh, Jonathan Taylor, EIB Vice-President with responsibility for energy, environment and climate lending, said, “Our commitment to supporting the low carbon economy through providing climate finance is clear. This is an innovative approach that has been able to benefit from the enlightened regulatory framework introduced recently in Jordan. It’s good for the planet and good for the economy and business too.

He added, “This initiative is also about strengthening the resilience of a region, hit hard by the current refugee crisis and also particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, which could in itself add to other drivers of migration. Projects like this are very much part of the strategic approach of the EU bank and a key part of supporting resilience and sustainability in its neighbourhood.”

Mónica Arévalo, Senior Investment Manager of the GEEREF said, “Together with our partners, we decided to invest in the Catalyst MENA Clean Energy Fund to help bridge the financing gap for private sector-led renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in the MENA region. We believe through this fund we will be able to bring strong value added to the target countries in clean energy generation and greenhouse gas emission savings, coupled with supporting best environmental and social practices.”

Background information:

About GEEREF

The Global Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund (GEEREF) is an innovative fund-of-funds equally funded by public and private capital. It provides much-needed equity financing to small and medium-sized renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in developing countries via specialist private equity funds. GEEREF is advised by the European Investment Bank Group, combining the global expertise in climate finance investments of the European Investment Bank with the fund-of-funds management expertise of the European Investment Fund.

GEEREF was launched in 2008 with EUR 112 million of public sector seed funding from the European Union and the governments of Germany and Norway. In 2015, GEEREF had a final close at EUR 222 million, with an additional EUR 110 million from private investors. To date GEEREF has invested in 11 funds that have in turn invested in over 65 projects. With its “People, Planet, Profit” objective, GEEREF aims to increase access to electricity, combat climate change and deliver a sustainable risk-adjusted financial return to investors. For more information:

About the EIB Group

The EIB is active in 160 countries around the world. As the biggest multilateral climate financier, the EIB provides long-term financing for sound, sustainable investment projects in support of EU policy goals in Europe and beyond. The EIB is owned by the EU’s 28 member states.

The EIB is the world’s largest financer of climate-related projects. Last year around 27% of all lending went towards climate action. The Bank is committed to raising the proportion of climate investment in developing countries to 35% of its overall lending in these countries by 2020, and placing a greater emphasis on helping regions in the frontline of climate change to adapt.

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