Team of the USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project keeps informing about clean energy sources which the Ukrainians may use as alternative to natural gas. This time, we have created a series of information posters representing potential of Khersonska, Sumska and Volynska oblasts. For instance, total potential of clean energy sources in Khersonska oblast is 42% of the current consumption level. Almost half of consumed resources (mainly, natural gas) can be substituted in the region with cheaper and environmentally clean resources – for example, agricultural waste (straw, peel, etc.). Please read about alternative energy sources in Sumska and Volynska oblasts here. In the near future, similar posters will be created also for other partner regions of the USAID Project.

On August 18^th, experts of the USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project in Ukraine (USAID Project) delivered a seminar on the topic of Implementation of Energy Efficient Measures in Multiunit Apartment Buildings for residents of Kamianets-Podilskyi. The event has been initiated by the city residents themselves who contacted a local OSBB Clean Energy Support Resource Center (RC). It is one of the thirteen RCs, which have been established in the partner cities with support of the USAID Project. The seminar was attended by nearly 70 representatives of local condominium associations (OSBBs), OSBB associations, City Council, and the nongovernmental organizations engaged in the activities of OSBB creation and operation. Experts of the USAID Project told the participants about the specifics of implementing energy efficiency activities in multiunit apartment buildings and of attracting financial resources. Also, they have discussed the legislative requirements for keeping buildings in good repair, methods of conducting technical operation, intervals and scope of building maintenance and repairs. Presented at the seminar was a calculator developed by specialists of the USAID Project, which will make it possible for OSBBs to automatically calculate the values of building’s physical deterioration (of its structural units and utilities). These findings will make it possible for OSBBs to take effective decisions on conducting building inspections, identifying the scope of work required for ensuring reliability and safety of their further use. This software has been developed at the request of Resource Centers of the USAID Project partner cities.

Attention! The USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project in Ukraine (USAID Project) announces a competitive selection of partner cities and/or territorial communities in Odesa Oblast. One of the key elements in the implementation of the USAID Project is work with the partner cities on improved efficiency in the use of municipal energy resources by training specialists and providing assistance in the development of Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAP) or similar documents which identify energy development and promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. These plans are based on energy audits of the energy supply systems and systems for the provision of communal services. In addition, the USAID Project provides support to the cities in the development of municipal energy management systems and assists in raising financing for the implementation of the measures identified in the energy plans and SEAPs. . Read more<<

Diana Korsakaite, Chief of Party of the USAID Project, spoke at a signing ceremony with important implications for Energy Efficiency projects in Kyiv. “The USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project in Ukraine actively supports the implementation of energy efficiency measures and the attraction of investments in the housing sector of the Ukrainian capital. Next week we will open a free information hotline on saving energy, programs to support energy efficiency measures, the establishment of condominiums, and other issues. Anyone can get free expert advice on how to properly insulate a house, how to save energy, how to create condominiums, how to receive a loan and compensation for implementing energy efficiency projects in buildings under state and municipal programs, etc.”

The event marked the signing of an agreement between the Department of Housing and Communal Infrastructure of the KSCA, with Oshchadbank and Ukrgazbank regarding the reimbursement of the "warm" loans principal for the residents of Kyiv. The agreement envisages that 40% of the loan for the materials and equipment is reimbursed by the State Agency for Energy Efficiency, and 30% by the city of Kyiv. The maximum amount of compensation from the municipal budget is UAH 14,000 per apartment per year. It is expected that funding from the local budget in 2016 will reach at least UAH 4 million.

On July 5, the USAID Project organized a seminar titled, “Procedures for Forming and Setting Tariffs in the Heat Supply Sector for Licensees of the National Energy and Communal Services Regulatory Commission (NECSRC). New Legislation and Current Issues”. The participants discussed the latest legislative changes and draft normative and legal acts on the regulation of tariffs for the heat supply sector, and district heating and hot water supply services. Attention was focused on the development and approval of the annual plans of the utilities licensed by NECSRC, the formation of their planned expenditure and profit as included in tariffs, as well as the formation of one-tier and two-tier tariffs for heat energy and services.

 The second series of meetings of six task forces working on the development of Ukraine’s Low Emission Development Plan took place in Kyiv. On 5-8 July, representatives of State ministries, the Academy of Sciences, businesses, NGOs, and the USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project, discussed the full catalog of measures to be included in the Action Plan in the following sectors: energy supply, energy consumption in the housing and communal services sector, transport, agriculture, forestry and others. Also, a methodology for analysis was presented at the meetings that will allow to identify in the future the priority measures for low emission development in Ukraine.

The “Energy Efficiency: How Does the State Help the Populace?” discussion took place on July 12. Participants included Diana Korsakaite, Chief of Party of the USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project in Ukraine (USAID Project), Serhii Savchuk, SAEE Chairman, representatives of the Association of Energy Auditors of Ukraine, Civil network OPORA, International Financial Corporation, the chairmen of condominiums from Ukrainian cities, and journalists. 

The discussion focused on issues of state energy efficiency policy. Chairman Savchuk delivered a presentation on the results of the national survey on the efficiency of the State Program of Support to the Implementation of Energy Efficiency Measures for Condominiums, which was conducted with USAID support.  Also, the chairmen of condominiums from Lutsk, Lviv and Kharkiv told about their experience of energy efficiency measures implementation with loan funds, and about the mechanism of loan repayment.

Diana Korsakaite stated that, “We are very pleased that 98% of the respondents indicated that their experience of participation in this program was positive. And I am extremely pleased to mention that this happened with the help of our Project, as 20% of the respondents said that they received information on the energy efficiency measures and state energy efficiency support program from the Condominium Clean Energy Resource Centers that are currently operating in 13 partner cities”.

You can watch video from the event here.

The “Investment Programs: Financing Sources, Specifics of Accounting and Taxation, Directions for Legislative Framework Improvement” seminar took place at the end of June. Participants included NECSRC employees and representatives of the heating and water utilities from the 17 partner cities of the USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project in Ukraine. The participants discussed the current normative and legal framework which regulates investment programs in the heating, water supply and sewage sectors as well as how to improve it. The participants also considered the issues of deposit, accounting and the use of funds in current accounts with special usage mode for making settlements under investment programs.

We invite you to peruse the second issue of the New Investment Opportunities information digest prepared by the Municipal Energy Reform Project in Ukraine (USAID Project) experts and the team. We cover the energy efficient projects currently being developed by partner-cities, the consulting support provided to them by experts of the USAID Project in the process of development of technical documents, as well as the opportunities opening up for cities in attracting technical assistance and investments in the process of municipal infrastructure improvement.

Digest can be found here.

A national forum called the Energy Efficiency Fund; Ukraine's Key Start-up was held with support of the USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project in Ukraine (USAID Project) in Kyiv on 23 June. The event was attended by 700 persons, including the top management of Ukrainian and international companies, national manufacturers of energy efficient equipment and products, foreign investors, representatives of international organizations and financial corporations. The Forum has become a communication platform for dialog between the government, business community, representatives of OSBBs, and international institutions. Diana Korsakaite, USAID Project's chief of party, took part in the Forum's discussion panel: "Where to get the money for reform implementation? Monetization of subsidies, loans, donor assistance."  She stressed in her speech the need of developing the necessary legislative and regulatory framework for commercial accounting of all communal services without exception, as being the right way to provide incentives to consumers for them to implement energy efficient measures.

This mid-June has become very "hot" for the partner-cities of the USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project in Ukraine (USAID Project), and we don't just mean the weather. For instance, a European Sustainable Energy Week was held in Ukraine recently. The USAID Project partner-cities, which joined in celebrating this day, included Vinnytsia, Lutsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Sumy. With our support, these cities held eco-quests, themed conferences, and round-tables, bike-rides, brain-rings, competitions of drawings on asphalt, and a multitude of other "energy efficient" activities. In addition, the USAID Project team installed our information booths on the main squares in Vinnytsia and Lutsk. Here, city residents could obtain consultations of USAID Project experts and brochures on energy saving issues, insulation of their dwellings, installation of energy-efficient windows, creation of HOAs, etc. Schoolchildren participated in science laboratories devoted to clean energy, while the youngest residents with parents and volunteers were making toy windmills.

The 2016 European Sustainable Energy Week was launched in June in Lutsk with participation of the USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project (USAID Project), representatives of the European Union in Ukraine, Lutsk City Council, and the Volynska Oblast State Administration, as well as other international and Ukrainian partners. The fest was organized by the Energy Efficient Cities of Ukraine Association.

During the opening ceremony, the USAID Project Chief of Party, Diana Korsakaite has noted in her speech: "The European Sustainable Energy Week is a great platform for discussing energy saving measures, and finding new partners in the field of energy performance. Our Project supports 17 Ukrainian cities, including Lutsk. We are assisting these cities in implementing energy efficiency measures and clean energy initiatives. The main goal of this assistance is reducing the import of fossil fuels and lowering greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. The USAID Project is prepared to assist in attracting investments in Lutsk, as it will help improve the life of city residents.". Read more<<

An official award ceremony for the winners of contest on reduction of electricity consumption which was conducted in 78 schools of 16 partner cities of the USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project in Ukraine (USAID Project) took place on June 7. Over three months, the students together with the teachers were able to save more than 41,000 kWh of electricity, which in monetary terms is UAH 78,901. The greatest success in savings of electricity was achieved in Kamianets-Podilskyi (33.5%) and Khmelnytskyi (20.5%). The average rate of consumption reduction compared to the baseline period is 17.8%. According to the terms of the contest, the winners are 16 schools (one from each city) which received  the certificates for energy audits of their school buildings, diplomas and souvenirs from the USAID Project. In addition, the contest also rewarded the students-authors of the best videos and drawings devoted to energy saving.

The USAID-funded Municipal Energy Reform Project is assisting the cities of Chernihiv, Khmelnytskyi, and Ternopil to receive €5 million or more in preferential loans (at about 1.31% annual in Euro) from the European Investment Bank for the modernization of municipal infrastructure. Read more<<

The city of Khmelnytskyi has received approval from the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO) Credit Committee for a preferential loan under the Energy-Saving Program for conducting a comprehensive thermal modernization of the city's five government-funded institutions. Read more<<

A Preliminary Feasibility Study for solid municipal waste management and landfill gas collection and utilization system is being developed for the city of Ivano-Frankivsk under the USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project in Ukraine. Read more<<