State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine in synergy with UNDP improve the development of energy management, energy services and renewable energy in Ukraine

The partnership between the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine (SAEEESU) and UNDP, launched a year ago by Chairman Valerii Bezus and Dafina Gercheva, UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine, is actively developing and is filled with concrete results to promote sustainable development of the country.

Among the Agency's priorities is the implementation of the Law of Ukraine "On Energy Efficiency". Its execution requires a strong bylaw base, which is what the parties focused on in partnership.

With the advisory support of UNDP, the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine has developed a number of draft regulations that provide for the creation of

a register of state authorities and local self-government bodies that have introduced an energy management system;

register of business entities that have received certificates of energy and/or environmental management;

Methodology for determining the target annual energy consumption reduction;

database of energy auditors;

National energy efficiency monitoring system.

The parties are also cooperating on changes in the legal framework to simplify the energy service procurement procedure.

In addition to the work on legislation, the parties pay attention to improving the skills of energy managers appointed in government bodies and enterprises.

In September this year, the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine, with the support of UNDP in Ukraine and with the participation of the Association of Energy Auditors of Ukraine, conducted a broad educational campaign on energy management for central and local government authorities, local self-government bodies, subordinate enterprises and institutions. More than 1800 specialists from all over the country took part in 10 online training seminars. The participants received a detailed explanation of the legal and regulatory framework of the energy management system, the procedure for collecting and analyzing energy consumption data, sources of financing for energy efficiency measures, etc.

The UNDP project also carries out connecting of public sector buildings in Rivne and Kirovohrad regions and the city of Odesa to the local energy monitoring system.

The formation of a strategy for the balanced development of renewable energy in Ukraine is another important area of partnership with UNDP.

With the support of UNDP and in accordance with the requirements of the current legislation, a strategic environmental assessment of the draft National Renewable Energy Action Plan for the period up to 2030 and the Implementation Action Plan developed by the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine was conducted. As a result, the draft National Action Plan has been submitted to the Ministry of Energy for further submission to the Government.

Another priority of the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving is to create appropriate conditions for the implementation of a single platform of guarantees for the origin of energy from renewable sources. Painstaking work on this issue is accompanied by research, analysis of the experience of leading EU countries, determination of the most effective mechanism for Ukraine, development of a roadmap and, of course, preparation of the legislative framework.

"We highly appreciate the opportunity of fruitful cooperation with the United Nations Development Program. We have a common goal - sustainable development, and our efforts are aimed at obtaining a concrete practical result. The quality of the implementation of the energy management system in communities, the construction of a unified energy monitoring system in Ukraine, and the possibility of further development of renewable energy depend on our active actions," commented Chairman of the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine Valerii Bezus.