Clean Energy for Vulnerable Households and Communities Project

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...