Renewable Energy Use

Outcome

% of facilities and/or services that are operated with renewable energy

This indicator measures the proportion of relevant facilities and/or services supported by the intervention that are operated partially or fully using renewable energy (e.g., solar, wind, or sustainable biomass). It helps track progress towards more environmentally sustainable and cost-efficient service delivery in humanitarian settings (e.g., for health, WASH, education).

Determine the indicator value using the following methodology:

 

1) Define what counts as a “facility / service” for your action (e.g., health facilities, water systems / pumping stations, schools / learning spaces, distribution hubs, communal lighting, partner-run offices / warehouses, etc.). Prepare a list of such facilities / services.

 

2) Define what “operated with renewable energy” means in your project. Use a clear, auditable rule, for example:

    - Binary rule: a facility / service is counted if it has a renewable-energy system installed, functional, and in routine use at the time of measurement (even if there is backup diesel/grid supply).

    - Share rule: a facility / service is counted if renewables provide at least X% of operational energy needs (choose X and justify).

 

3) Collect and verify required data. Consider using a combination of the following sources of information:

    - facility / service design documents

    - key informant interviews (e.g. facility administrators)

    - records of purchased energy (e.g. electricity bills)

    - energy meter readings

    - inverter monitoring apps

    - generator logbooks

    - observations

 

4) To determine the indicator’s value:

    - count the number of facilities / services that can be considered “operated with renewable energy” based on the criteria defined in step 2

    - divide it by the total number of supported facilities (see step 1)

    - multiply the result by 100 to convert it to a percentage

The result can be disaggregated by:

    - the extent to which the facility / service is operated using renewable energy (e.g., fully, at least 75%, at least 50%, etc.)

    - the type of facility / service (e.g., water supply, health, education, offices/warehouses, lighting);

    - energy source / technology (solar PV, solar thermal, wind, sustainable biomass, hybrid, etc.); and

    - administrative area / site

 1) Energy share can vary by season (e.g., solar irradiance), demand (e.g., pumping hours), or outages. If using the share rule (step 2), specify the reference period and ensure that baseline and endline data are collected during comparable seasons.

 

2) Avoid inflating results with token installations: Count a facility / service as “operated with renewable energy” only if the renewable system is functional and in routine use and it provides a meaningful contribution to the facility / service’s operational energy needs as defined in Step 2. Do not count installations that are only marginal or symbolic (e.g., a small panel powering a few lights or phone charging) unless such uses are explicitly defined as sufficient for the facility / service type and the rule is applied consistently at baseline / endline.

 

3) Where feasible, complement this indicator by estimating and reporting greenhouse gas emissions avoided and cost savings resulting from the use of renewable energy.

 

4) This indicator is used by DG ECHO as one of its Key Outcome Indicators.