Energy Peace Partners (EPP), a pro bono client, has partnered with solar developer Nuru in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on a new renewable energy project to roll out the inaugural Peace Renewable Energy Credits (P-RECs). Nuru’s 1.3 MW solar system in Goma was inaugurated in February 2020.

The solar project is Africa’s largest off-grid solar minigrid in operation and will eventually serve more than 750 households and small to medium-sized enterprises. The project is the first renewable energy project from which EPP will issue P-RECs. P-RECs are traditional I-RECs - the dominant standard for Energy Attribute Certificates outside North America and Europe - with certified peacebuilding co-benefits. The revenue from the first P-REC sale is funding community streetlighting that will improve safety and security in the Ndosho neighborhood of Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu Province.

Wilson Sonsini assisted EPP with their formation and fiscal sponsorship agreement with the California Clean Energy Fund (CalCEF) now known as New Energy Nexus. EPP leverages climate and finance solutions that promote peace in countries threatened by conflict, climate change and energy poverty. Wilson Sonsini has counseled EPP in structuring the role of the P-REC as part of energy projects in development in EPP target countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan.

The San Francisco-based, Wilson Sonsini pro bono team was led by attorney Scott Zimmermann, with support from Peter Mostow and Todd Glass.

For more information about their continuing work, please visit EPP.