PPA Watch Resources

Go deeper on how secret electricity contracts stifle clean energy markets worldwide and make electricity expensive and unreliable for billions.

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White Paper

PPA Watch White Papers make the case for why PPA secrecy damages clean energy development and contributes to costly outcomes for billions of energy-poor people.

This white paper by Mohamed Rali Badissy, Charles Kenny, and Todd Moss argues that governments should agree to publish PPAs with any public sector obligation and that funders of private generation projects also agree to minimum disclosure standards.

Case Studies

Our case studies look at how PPA transparency — or the lack of it — impacts economic growth and power provision at the individual country level.

During the 2011-16 power crisis, the government of Ghana signed 43 secret PPAs. Today, the country is still living with the grim consequences — from rising tariff rates to mass outages to stalled deployment of renewables.

Kenya Power has signed at least 42 PPAs with private developers. But apart from some basic information, very little detail is available to the public regarding how each contract was procured, its cost structure and resulting electricity price, or the impacts on Kenya’s broader power system.

Trinidad and Tobago’s ambitious goal of achieving 20% renewable energy by 2030 requires overcoming challenges in reducing natural gas dependence, which can be realized through policy changes and competitive procurement.

Indonesia’s PPA transparency policies are limited, with few fully disclosed contracts, posing corruption risks and hindering effective power sector planning. Enhanced measures, like detailed disclosure and standardized templates, are recommended for market integrity and investor confidence.

Malawi’s PPA transparency policies are insufficient, with no public disclosure of contract details or tariffs. This lack of transparency leads to challenges like expensive power deals and non-cost-reflective tariffs. Revising confidentiality clauses, setting tariff disclosure guidelines, and implementing binding regulations are key to resolving the power crisis.

Zambia’s PPA policies lack transparency, with no public disclosure of contract details or financial information, despite IPPs accounting for nearly 24% of total electricity generation in 2020. Amending legislation for transparent power procurement and passing the Access to Information Bill can improve transparency.

India’s power sector, enhanced by the Electricity Act, 2003, aims for a 450 GW renewable target by 2030. Success depends on major financing and resolving distribution companies’ financial problems. Key reforms are needed for transparency and competition, ensuring sustainable energy access.

South Africa’s GDP struggles with load shedding, incurring high daily costs. Efforts, including a $8.5 billion renewable plan, are hindered by conflicts, corruption, and PPA opacity. Transparency in power procurement is essential for economic and energy stability in the country.