Section 3
TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR)
Secretariat of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
Knowledge, Policy and Finance Centre (KPFC)
Study on environmental impact from large-scale deployment of renewable energy
technologies
I.
Background
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an inter-governmental organisation,
mandated by member states around the world to promote the widespread and increased
adoption and “sustainable use” of all forms of renewable energy. This concerns all forms of
energy produced from renewable sources in a sustainable manner, which include bioenergy,
geothermal energy, hydropower, ocean, solar and wind energy.
Renewable energy generation represents one of the most promising options to lower
greenhouse gas emissions while satisfying the increasing global demand for energy services.
If implemented properly, renewable energy might contribute significantly to social and
economic development, ensure energy access, secure energy supply, as well as reduce negative
impacts on the environment and public health.
IRENA’s mandate for promoting renewable energy is closely linked to the realisation of
sustainable development. The role of renewables across the three pillars of sustainability is
increasingly investigated by experts and the public alike as their deployment progresses. Even
though renewables can mitigate adverse environmental impacts from conventional energy
production, their deployment may also come with environmental trade-offs that could lead to
negative consequences and function as barriers when considering these options as alternatives
for energy generation.
So far, environmental impacts from large-deployment of renewable energy technologies have
not been sufficiently addressed. Existing assessments are based on scientific approaches such
as lifecycle analysis, focusing on limited series of environmental parameters and conditions. A
clear overview of potential environmental impacts from each renewable energy technology is
needed to fill knowledge gap in this field to define practical pathways to tackle those potential
impacts.
One of IRENA’s short-term goals (as outlined in its 2013 Work Programme) aims at
broadening understanding of socio-economic variables in face of large-scale deployment of
renewable energy technologies, as well as undertaking in-depth analysis of potential
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environmental impact from each technology, with particular attention to off-grid applications
which are expected to help increase access to electricity in rural areas in the coming decades.
In consideration of environmental impact, attention should be given to not only scientific
assessments but also public understanding and perception of renewable energy technologies as
public acceptance is an absolute pre-requisite to ensure success when integrating renewables
as energy generation alternatives.
II.
Objectives and scope of the work
Even though renewable energy can support to mitigate adverse environmental impacts related
to conventional energy production, it is important to pinpoint that their large-scale development
might also generate negative impacts and externalities. As the IRENA’s mandate defines, the
“sustainability” of renewable energy technologies should be pursued hand in hand with the
“renewability” of the technologies.
The integration of renewable energy technologies into the energy system should firstly ensure
fulfilment of sustainability criteria, satisfying standards of environmental quality and
preventing environmental harms associated to the deployment of technologies. Renewable
energy technologies, let alone conventional energy generation technologies, come with
environmental trade-offs that must be acknowledged and appropriately addressed at different
stages of their lifecycle – from extraction of materials, through manufacturing and project
implementation, to end-of-life treatment.
Environmental impact can vary significantly not only among technologies but also different
geographically specific aspects such as local land use, infrastructures, social and cultural values,
maturity of civil society, economic parameters and regulatory framework. An integrated
consideration or assessment of all these components is thus required to ensure successful
deployment of renewable energy technologies.
Furthermore, it is also important to recognise potential difference in environmental impact
between on-grid and off-grid applications of the same technologies. Off-grid renewables have
potential to fill the demand-supply gap in the form of distributed generation and can
supplement the grid supply for achieving rural electrification goals. However, due to their
decentralised nature, off-grid applications may face more difficulties in controlling
environmental impacts such as those related to end-of-life treatment of equipment and
components.
This request for proposal aims to build up a solid, comprehensive foundation of state-of-art
knowledge on environmental impact and related activities which serves as basis for the projects
under the 2013 Work Programme and future IRENA activities in this area. It should also serve
for helping policy makers and project developers understand environmental impact and the
issue of public acceptance as a signpost to overcome potential barriers to deployment.
The main objectives of this assignment include:
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III.

Obtaining a comprehensive overview of what environmental and related impact and
trade-offs exist in relation to large-scale deployment of each renewable energy
technology at all the stages of its lifecycle (e.g. extraction of materials, manufacturing,
project implementation, end-of-life treatment), including the identification of diverse –
both scientific and perceptive – parameters which affect the understanding and
evaluation of impact;

Identifying “hot spots” among diverse potential impact areas where IRENA and
member states need to pay a particular attention in order to consider their strategies for
large-scale renewable energy deployment;

Identifying existing good practices, efforts, tools and methods aiming to cope with
environmental trade-offs, mitigate impacts and/or improve public acceptance, which
member states can learn from and can be transferred; and

Compiling recommendations to member states and relevant stakeholders as well as for
the future work by IRENA in this area.
Tasks and deliverables
Task elements
The consultant firm in charge of this assignment will be responsible of delivering a report
which consists of the following elements to fulfil the above objectives:
 Element 1: State of the art of environmental and related impact and trade-offs from
each renewable energy technology throughout its lifecycle
The consultant firm is expected to provide a detailed overview (including a matrix) of
key environmental and related impacts and potential trade-offs which large-scale
deployment of renewable energy technologies may cause throughout their entire
lifecycle (e.g. from extraction of materials, through manufacturing and project
implementation, to end-of-life treatment). The environmental impacts from the
technologies and infrastructure that support the deployment of renewable energy
technologies (e.g. energy storage, electricity grid) should also be taken into account.
Such an overview should be provided according to each technology type of at least the
following categories: solar (PV, thermal and thermo-electric), wind (on- and off-shore),
hydro (large- and small-scale), ocean, geothermal and biomass (for power, heating and
transport). In particular, potential environmental impacts and trade-offs from off-grid
applications of each technology type have to be clearly identified in a comparable way
with those from on-grid applications. Since the impacts from the large-scale
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deployment of biomass and large hydropower have been well experienced and recorded
in the last decades, the study should focus on future potential impacts.
 Element 2: Identification of each renewable energy technology’s “hot spots” among
environmental and related impact and trade-offs
The consultant firm is expected to provide a list of “hot spots” and their detailed
explanations according to each technology type where they lead to potentially significant
barriers to renewable energy deployment and IRENA and member states need to focus
their strategies for reducing risks and improving public acceptance as well as advance
impact assessment.
The understanding of hot spots may be based on the collection and analysis of existing
understanding, perception and findings on the impact (including actual case studies that
faced difficulties in promoting renewable energy due to proven, perceptive or potential
impact), as well as existing impact measurement approaches and results.
The selection of hot spots should be based on clear, impartial criteria. The hot spots may
differ according to the parameters identified in Element 1 and should be presented in a
way to take them into account.
 Element 3: Identification of practices and support measures to overcome difficulties in
renewable energy deployment brought on by environmental impact and trade-offs
The consultant firm is expected to identify good practices which successfully provided
solutions to environmental impact or trade-offs and gained public acceptance to renewable
energy technologies and to draft at least five case studies. The firm shall also collect
existing governmental and non-governmental efforts to mitigate the issues and conflicts
including the provision of strategies, stakeholder dialogues, tools and assessment
methodologies.
The lessons from good practices and efforts should be extracted and synthesised in a
manner which can be transferred to member states and relevant stakeholders. If relevant,
practices and efforts for raising public acceptance to conventional energy technologies
may also be referred.
 Element 4: Provision of recommendations to shape the future IRENA work
Based on all the work elements previously performed, the consultant firm is expected to
provide a set of recommendations and strategic actions addressed to member states, project
developers and other relevant stakeholders on how to address environmental impact and
trade-offs and improve public acceptance of renewable energy technologies. The
recommendations should also address where IRENA can focus its efforts in this area in
coming years.
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The areas of consideration include knowledge gaps to fill, dialogue with stakeholders,
analysis of effective policy instruments, improvement in communications and knowledge
sharing and advancement in impact assessment methods, among others.
Particularly, since it is important for IRENA to foster and lead engagement of key
stakeholders in this area, the consulting firm is expected to include in the recommendations
a list of stakeholders selected based on sound criteria (including academic experts, civil
society, manufacturers, project developers and investors) as well as a plan of future
engagement and dialogue.
Deliverables and timeline
The consultant firm shall provide a report with publishable quality which comprises of all
outputs and results derived from the tasks performed for the Elements 1-3 outlined above.
Separately, the firm shall deliver a paper containing recommendations and strategic actions to
be taken by IRENA, member states and other stakeholders as defined in the Element 4. It is
expected that the consultant firm will achieve the objectives of this assignment with the
delivery of following items:
1. Develop a work plan and a structure of the report approved by IRENA;
2. Deliver a draft report (expected 70-100 pages) which results from the Elements 1, 2
and 3 and are approved by IRENA;
3. Deliver a draft of the recommendations (expected 10-15 pages) defined as the Element
4 by the middle of the fourth month and approved by IRENA; and
4. Deliver the final report and recommendations that reflect IRENA’s final feedback to
the drafts and are approved by IRENA.
IV.
Required profile
We are seeking a consulting firm with substantive proven experience and capacity to provide
the required contents and analysis as outlined above. In particular, the firm is expected to have:

In-depth understanding on renewable energy technologies and projects, particularly
their technical aspects including equipment manufacturing, project planning and
implementation, and end-of-life management;

Experience in the use of methodological tools to assess lifecycle-wide impact related
to the development and deployment of energy technologies;

Good understanding of environmental and social issues surrounding energy generation,
both renewable and conventional;

Have an extensive network with relevant stakeholders such as governments,
researchers, NGOs and project developers in different regions around the world that
enables them to identify state of the art of the subject and interesting cases and insights;
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
V.
Fluency in English, written and spoken; Skilled at producing visual materials.
Terms of payment
Payment upon on-time delivery of the above deliverables to IRENA will be as follows:
Expected date of delivery (from the time of signing the contract)
Payment (% of the
total amount)
1. Develop a work plan and a structure of the report approved by
IRENA;
15%
2. Deliver a draft report (expected 70-100 pages) which results
from the Elements 1, 2 and 3 and are approved by IRENA;
35%
3. Deliver a draft of the recommendations (expected 10-15 pages)
defined as the Element 4 by the middle of the fourth month and
approved by IRENA; and
50%
4. Deliver the final report and recommendations that reflect
IRENA’s final feedback to the drafts and are approved by IRENA.
VI.
Criteria for technical evaluation of offers
In order to assess best value for money, the technical evaluation of the RFP will be based on:
Criteria
1. Past experiences in relevant areas: Track record that proves
capability to extract relevant information needed for the tasks
and to understand technical issues related to environmental
impact from renewable energy technologies. – Provide
samples of relevant past work over the last 3-5 years.
Weighting (%)
20
2. Quality of the proposal in approaching environmental impact
from large-deployment of renewable energy technologies:
How professional and innovative the approach in which the
consulting firm proposes for identifying and compiling a wide
range of environmental impacts. – Provide a work plan of 3-5
pages.
20
3. Ability to identify and present good practices and policy
measures around the world: How extensive network the
consulting firm has and exercises to obtain relevant, quality
information in a short period of time. How attractively the
firm can summarise and present such information.
15
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4. Ability to benchmark and identify “hot spots”: How
proficient the consulting firm is in benchmarking different
environmental aspects and identifying material issues and
risks.
15
5. Ability to develop recommendations and strategies: How
experienced the consulting firm is in providing organisations
with strategic advice and how well received and applied by
clients.
15
6. Team quality: Composition, qualifications and experiences of
team – Provide CVs of at least 3 experts, whom you propose
to undertake the tasks. Minimum qualification: with one at
least 7 year and others at least 2 year experience of working
with international organisations in the related field. Indicate
your management and implementation plan.
15
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