Clean Energy for Vulnerable Households and Communities Project

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The development objective of the Clean Energy for Vulnerable Households and Communities Project for Argentina is to increase energy access and energy efficiency in vulnerable households and communities and to respond promptly and effectively in case of an eligible crisis or emergency. The project comprises of four components. The first component, increase energy access in vulnerable households and communities supports interventions to improve access and quality of electricity services in dispersed rural communities and the most vulnerable populations in particular by targeting households and public institutions such as schools, health posts or provincial public services centers. It consists of following sub-components: (i) mini-grids will support the deployment of renewable energy technologies, including installing new systems, upgrading old systems, or appropriately replacing existing diesel-powered systems; (ii) standalone solar photovoltaic (PV) systems will finance the installation of second and third generation standalone solar PV systems in rural communities or isolated population clusters; (iii) thermal systems will fund the installation of renewable energy systems for thermal energy generation to provide water heating in rural communities or isolated population clusters for vulnerable communities or public institutions; and (iv) productive uses. The second component, increase energy efficiency in vulnerable households and communities will seek to increase energy efficiency across Argentina with a focus on vulnerable households, communities, and their community centers (such as clubes, community kitchens, communal playrooms, popular libraries, and many others). It consists of following sub-components: (i) households will seek to finance and facilitate the replacement of food conservation equipment with new and efficient (class A or higher) refrigerators utilizing refrigerants with low global warming potential in vulnerable households across the country; and (ii) community centers, such as clubes, will fund the acquisition and installation of efficient lighting fixtures, wiring and associated equipment and minor works needed for appropriate implementation to upgrade and replace existing lighting infrastructure. The third component, project management and support for policymaking will focus on supporting and providing resources for the implementation of components 1 and 2, for the overall decarbonization of the energy sector, and for developing training and capacity building activities; performing assessments to inform energy sector guidelines; ensuring the incorporation of gender-related and citizen engagement aspects in the operation; develop appropriate and tailored communication strategies; and improve evidence for policymaking. It consists of following sub-components: (i) project management will focus on providing support and capabilities for overall project management; and (ii) support for policymaking will seek to fund activities to increase local capacities, provide evidence and outputs for policymaking and develop communication strategies. The fourth component, contingent emergency response component (CERC) is a contingent financing mechanism available to have immediate access to World Bank financing to respond to an event that has caused, or is likely to imminently cause, a major adverse economic and or social impact associated with natural or man-made crises or disasters.