The Renewable Energy Market Transformation (REMT) implementation support unit (ISU) at the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) is seeking consultants to develop a comprehensive business plan for the rollout of 40 000 solar water heating (SWH) units in the Free State province.

The ISU has issued an expression of interest (EoI) calling on consultants to compile a "comprehensive business case" that would serve as a "catalyst and roadmap" for implementation of a SWH project in identified areas in the Free State province.

Through the REMT project, the Department of Energy (DoE) has developed a SWH strategic framework, which it planned to test with the rollout of the targeted 40 000 SWH units.

The REMT ISU was created to assist with implementation of an REMT project, which was launched to help South Africa eliminate barriers to renewable energy development through support for policy, regulation, legislation, financing mechanisms, institutional capacity building and grant finance for selected project development.

The consultants would be expected to assess the environment in the identified areas and recommend the most appropriate units, in terms of needs and affordability of the province, as well as determine the most appropriate design for SWH unit installation in the different areas.

Further, the appointed consultants would have to analyse the current SWH manufacturing and supply capacity and the required SWH manufacturing and supply capacity building; analyse the training needs for the installation of SWH units; and analyse the socioeconomic impact of the project.

Lastly, an implementation plan covering all possible aspects of the national SWH Strategic Framework, including procurement, equipment specification, training, maintenance, costing institutional arrangement and stakeholder involvement, would also have to be developed by the consultants.

Interested parties would have until March 3 to submit EoI's to the REMT ISU.

The Global Environmental Facility had provided South Africa with $6-million in funding towards the REMT project.

In 2009, the REMT ISU had, as part of the REMT project, called on consultants to revise South Africa's White Paper on the Renewable Energy Policy of 2003.