By: T. Ezekiel Geeplay
Liberia is moving toward establishing a national system that could reward households, businesses, and institutions for adopting clean energy. The Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA) convened high-level talks this week with the Carbon Market Authority (CMA) and regional energy advisory firm Nextier to explore the creation of a Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) Framework.
The meeting, held on April 16, brought together RREA officials, CMA Chief Executive Officer Madam Jeanine Cooper and her team, and Nextier CEO Umar Nuhu Mohammed. Discussions focused on accelerating renewable energy adoption and positioning Liberia to benefit from global carbon markets.
A key outcome was the proposal to develop a REC Framework that would establish a transparent national system to track renewable energy usage and certify clean energy contributions from solar, hydro, and other eligible sources. If adopted, the system would allow households, businesses, and communities using verified renewable energy to access new incentives.
According to RREA, these incentives could include grants, financing opportunities, tax benefits, and other clean energy support mechanisms. “This initiative is aimed at unlocking emerging opportunities within the carbon market while expanding energy access,” RREA said in a statement following the meeting.
The proposed framework aligns with Liberia’s broader climate commitments and its push to expand electricity access, particularly in rural areas. More than 70 percent of Liberians still lack reliable electricity, with rural communities facing the greatest challenges. RREA emphasized its commitment to “driving innovative solutions that expand energy access, strengthen climate action, and support Liberia’s sustainable development agenda.”
No timeline for implementation was announced. Officials noted that the framework would require technical design, stakeholder consultations, and regulatory approval before rollout.
Renewable Energy Certificates are market-based instruments representing the environmental benefits of one megawatt-hour of electricity generated from renewable sources. Globally, RECs are traded and used by companies and governments to meet sustainability targets and access climate finance.
The Carbon Market Authority, led by Madam Cooper, serves as Liberia’s principal agency for carbon market development. Nextier, with experience in power sector reform and clean energy investment across West Africa, is expected to provide technical guidance.
The meeting comes as Liberia seeks to leverage international climate finance and carbon markets to fund its energy transition. The country recently submitted its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, pledging to reduce emissions while expanding energy access.
Observers say the REC initiative could help Liberia attract investment, strengthen accountability in the energy sector, and provide communities with tangible benefits from clean energy adoption. For households and businesses, the framework could mean lower costs, improved access to financing, and recognition for contributing to climate goals.
As Liberia advances its energy transition, the REC Framework represents a potential milestone in linking local clean energy efforts to global carbon markets. For RREA and its partners, the challenge now lies in turning proposals into policy — and ensuring that the benefits reach the communities most in need.
