Project Overview

CEDRO 5 focused on transforming Lebanon’s energy challenges into economic opportunities by supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The project aimed to trigger a market-led transition to sustainable energy by proving the commercial viability of green technologies in industrial settings and fostering a dedicated entrepreneurship environment.

Project Objective

• Help Lebanon achieve its Paris Agreement targets for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency.
• Mentor existing energy SMEs to scale up operations and identify new market gaps.
• Create a hub for creative energy solutions and new green value chains.
• Strengthen enabling policy frameworks, including Lebanon's Renewable Energy Certificate (REC/EAC) system and the ARZ green building rating platform.
• Respond to the socio-economic and health impacts of COVID-19 through KfW-funded renewable energy and solid-waste interventions (Activities 5–6, added under the 2022 Addendum).
   

Achievements & Key Figures

• Implemented 10 industrial solar PV and Energy Efficiency sites across multiple sectors 
• Delivered 24 solar PV systems for public institutions, schools, healthcare centers, and municipalities—under SEACAP/SEEAP interventions. 
• Trained more than 280 professionals, 77 trainers, and 100 engineering students (50% women) through dedicated RE/EE capacity-building programmes. 
• Implemented the Youth Energy Employability Program, preparing 100 engineering students (50% women) across Lebanon's four regions for RE/EE careers. 
• Supported 22 clean-energy start-ups through a national incubation programme, with 6 progressing to a full acceleration and investment-readiness phase 
• Operationalized Lebanon's Renewable Energy Certificate (REC/EAC) system, with LCEC designated as the national issuer and the first PV plant officially registered. 
• Developed and published multiple technical guidelines and studies, including solar PV, biogas, industrial energy efficiency, energy data collection, and an industrial RE/EE roadmap.
   

GESI Component (Gender Equality and Social Inclusion)

To ensure the green transition remains equitable, the project integrates a robust GESI component focused on inclusive growth. It empowers Women in Innovation through targeted outreach for start-up leadership and provides gender-responsive training to ensure female engineers are represented in technical workshops. Furthermore, the initiative drives equitable job creation by monitoring 9,189 person-months of employment for women and youth while prioritizing inclusive energy access for SMEs in sectors that sustain diverse livelihoods.