Ukraine is purposefully accumulating the critical mass of knowledge and skills for a real breakthrough in the sphere of energy efficiency, with the National Agency for Efficient Use of Energy Resources (NAER) acting as an engine in the process. Despite a lengthy period of chaos and political discord, the NAER was looking for, and coming up with, new solutions through studying international know-how, and emphasizing the cooperation with those countries that had made considerable progress in increasing energy efficiency and using alternative fuels.
On March 17, the media witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of understanding on energy efficiency and renewable energy sources between the NAER and the Austrian Energy Agency (AEA). The document stipulates the creation of centers for energy efficiency, for specialist training and upgrading, as well as for education of population in what concerns the use and conservation of energy resources.
On February 23, in Kyiv, the NAER, together with the Korea Development Institute, held a final seminar within the framework of Know-How Exchange Program, where they studied Korean know-how in stimulating energy efficiency through price rate policies, solutions in the sphere of windpower engineering, biofuel, and improvement of the use of the coal mining industry.
Speaking before the participants of the Ukraine-Austria seminar, the head of the NAER Serhii Yermilov emphasized that the Agency had developed and approved by the Ukrainian government, a program for the increasing of energy efficiency in Ukraine for 2010–15.
“In this program, we undertake an ambitious obligation to reduce the energy consumption per unit of the GDP by 20 percent and increase the proportion of renewable energy resources to five percent,” said Yermilov.
The cost of this program amounts to 250 billion hryvnias. Can a nation, which is still struggling with the crisis, garner such funds from its budget? Yermilov is optimistic about this. He related with pleasure that one of the main chapters of the coalition agreement begins with a declaration of the commitment to seek to increase energy efficiency. He also mentioned his meetings with the first vice prime minister, Andrii Kliuiev, who gave full support to the effort towards the introduction of strict energy conservation regime in the country. At the same time, the head of the NAER emphasized that Ukraine would not be able to fulfill this program without sizeable foreign investments and loans. In this connection, he brought up the question of conditions for granting such investments and loans. In answering it, Yermilov said, “First and foremost, we must have at our disposal a legal basis approaching the standards of European legislation and also create an attractive investment climate in this country.”
According to Yermilov, the World Bank and other international financial organizations assisted the NAER in the development of the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan.
“This plan will be very easy to understand for our European colleagues, because it was created in cooperation with international companies,” said Yermilov. He also spoke about the work on amending the energy efficiency legislation, in which the NAER was assisted by its colleagues from the European Commission, according to European directions. The draft law will be passed this year, and the head of the NAER believes that it will become the foundation that will enable Ukraine to attract 30–40 billion dollars in investments in energy conservation projects.
In this respect, Yermilov pins high hopes on Austrian experience, as this is the country which has, in his opinion, achieved significant results. In their turn, the Austrians demonstrate understanding of Ukraine’s resoluteness in putting an end to the squandering of energy resources. Herbert Lechner, the AEA deputy director, said at the seminar that energy efficiency is a key issue of their cooperation with Ukraine and outlined its main directions. They include defining the framework for access of the Austrian businesses and technologies to Ukraine, supplies of the relevant materials and equipment, training of Ukrainian experts in Austria, and demonstration of both Austrian and Ukrainian energy efficiency solutions.
The Austrians are also planning to establish direct cooperation between Ukrainian and Austrian companies and hold brainstorms for the business and the authority representatives of this country.
