Green Cooling – Accelerating the transition to climate-friendly and energy-efficient air conditioning (Kigali First Movers Project)

The Kigali First Movers (KFM) project seeks to shift the air conditioning (AC) market in Costa Rica, Indonesia, and Ghana away from high-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants and energy-inefficient models toward 'green AC' (defined as having GWP < 10 and utilizing best available technology for energy efficiency). The project is structured in two tranches: Tranche 1 focuses on Costa Rica (2020-2026), and Tranche 2 covers Indonesia and Ghana (2022-2028), supported by a global component. It targets a total mitigation impact of 37 MtCO2eq over its 20-year lifespan (2020-2040), with the bulk of reductions expected in Indonesia. The project addresses five main barrier categories: policy and regulatory frameworks, consumer behavior, technical capacity, technology availability, and finance. Key interventions include updating Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS), training and certifying RAC technicians, implementing green public procurement, and providing financial mechanisms such as on-bill financing and installation subsidies. The total indicative cost is USD 133.4 million, with USD 43.7 million requested as GCF grants and USD 85.7 million in co-finance.

• The project aims to achieve a total mitigation impact of 37 MtCO2eq over its 20-year lifespan (2020-2040), with 17 MtCO2eq estimated during the 8-year project duration.
• Indonesia is expected to provide the largest share of emission reductions, contributing 15 MtCO2eq during the project duration and 32 MtCO2eq over the project lifespan.
• The project defines 'Green AC' based on two mandatory criteria: the use of low-GWP refrigerant (GWP < 10) and high energy efficiency based on the best available technology (BAT).
• The refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) sector in developing countries is growing at an estimated 7% per annum until 2050, with 80% of the market expected to be located in developing countries by 2030.
• The project identifies significant barriers to green AC adoption, including low-ambition Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS), a lack of certified technicians, and high upfront costs for consumers.
• The project is implemented in two tranches to allow for knowledge transfer: Tranche 1 (Costa Rica, 2020-2026) and Tranche 2 (Indonesia and Ghana, 2022-2028).
• The total indicative project cost is USD 133.4 million, consisting of USD 43.7 million in GCF grants and USD 85.7 million in co-finance.
• The project expects to generate significant energy savings over the project period: 0.4 TWh for Costa Rica, 6.7 TWh for Indonesia, and 2.3 TWh for Ghana.
• The project's financial efficiency is estimated at an abatement cost of USD 1.2/tCO2eq over the project lifetime.

APA

Green Climate Fund (2019). Green Cooling – Accelerating the transition to climate-friendly and energy-efficient air conditioning (Kigali First Movers Project). https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/21670-green-cooling-accelerating-transition-climate-friendly-and-energy-efficient-air-conditioning.pdf

Chicago

Green Climate Fund. Green Cooling – Accelerating the transition to climate-friendly and energy-efficient air conditioning (Kigali First Movers Project). 2019. https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/21670-green-cooling-accelerating-transition-climate-friendly-and-energy-efficient-air-conditioning.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Green Climate Fund |title=Green Cooling – Accelerating the transition to climate-friendly and energy-efficient air conditioning (Kigali First Movers Project) |date=7 March 2019 |url=https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/21670-green-cooling-accelerating-transition-climate-friendly-and-energy-efficient-air-conditioning.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{greenclimatefund2019green, author = {{Green Climate Fund}}, title = {{Green Cooling – Accelerating the transition to climate-friendly and energy-efficient air conditioning (Kigali First Movers Project)}}, institution = {Green Climate Fund}, year = {2019}, month = mar, url = {https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/21670-green-cooling-accelerating-transition-climate-friendly-and-energy-efficient-air-conditioning.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }