Kyiv, 12 April 2019 – The United Nations Development Programme in Ukraine (UNDP), supported the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine, and jointly with the GIZ, UNIDO and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Office, organized the 5th Energy Efficiency Partnership Forum “Municipalities, State, Business: Transparent Investment Models.”

Over 600 participants from across Ukraine took part in the energy efficiency section of the main annual event, which was attended by governmental officials, heads of regional state administrations and oblast councils, city mayors, energy managers, representatives of amalgamated territorial communities, civil society, industrial enterprises, ESCOs and construction companies, producers of energy efficient materials and equipment, energy auditors. The event discussions focused mainly on the Ukrainian policy aspects related to energy efficiency, energy management as a basis for energy efficiency improvement at community level, energy service peculiarities along with the funding opportunities for the energy projects in Ukraine.

Ukrainian energy sector is characterized by a high level of dependence on foreign energy suppliers. The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and the Energy Strategy for Ukraine by 2035 stipulate that one of the priority tasks for the energy sector in Ukraine is to achieve energy independence through reducing energy consumption and using alternative energy sources. 

“UNDP supports Ukraine in introducing green and energy-efficient initiatives, and is implementing the Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings project to improve the energy performance of buildings in small- and medium-sized cities of Ukraine, tackle the effects of climate change, and improve Ukraine’s energy security,” said Sergii Varga, the manager of the UNDP/GEF “Removing the Barrier to Attraction of Energy Efficiency Investments in Public Buildings in Small- and Medium-Sized Cities of Ukraine on the Basis of the ESCO Model” project.

During the Forum, UNDP shared best international practices and its experience in implementing ESCO projects. In particular, the classic and deep partnership ESCO models, enabling the reduction of utility costs in schools, hospitals, kindergartens and other public buildings in Ukraine and energy saving potential at 30 percent, were presented. UNDP also showcased the results of the implementation of the first ESCO pilot project in Rivne Oblast, which is expected to achieve a 40-percent annual energy saving at six public buildings in the city of Dubno. Other cities, including Chortkiv, Druzkivka, Dobropyllia, Selydove, Slovyansk, Dubno, Chernobyl, and Melitopol also benefited from the implementation of UNDP energy efficiency measures, achieving a 5-percent reduction in energy consumption and a cut in CO2 emissions of 300 tons per year.

Background information:

The UNDP project “Removing Barriers to Increase Investments in Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings in Ukraine through the ESCO Modality in Small and Medium-Sized Cities,” implemented with the support of GEF, is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This is done by creating a favourable legal, regulatory, and market environment, and building institutional, administrative and technical capacities to promote energy efficiency measures in public buildings in small- and medium-sized cities of Ukraine, including hospitals, schools, governmental and higher education facilities, kindergartens, orphanages, pharmacies, employment centres, libraries, and museums. The project also covers the creation of a single nationwide energy consumption database, along with the Energy Management and Monitoring System for Ukraine. 

Media inquiries: Yuliia Samus, UNDP Communications Specialist, yuliia.samus@undp.org, +38 097 139 14 75