 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Project description
Name of the case study
Municipal Energy Efficiency Programme, Municipality of Gabrovo
Description of context
Bulgaria has confronted a series of major challenges in the energy sector, stemming from complex circumstances during the years of social and economic transition since 1990s.
The country imports more than 70% of its primary energy sources. It is mainly reliant on energy sources from Russia: oil, natural gas, high-quality coal and nuclear fuel. This causes concern about the security of energy supply (for comparison: EU whose dependence on imports is about 40%, but with a trend towards increasing this share up to 70% in the coming 20 years, is making strenuous efforts in two key areas - reduction in specific energy intensity per GDP unit in economy and utilisation of local renewable energy sources).
The rational use of energy sources is a national key strategic objective. Considerable scientific and technical potential has been mobilized for the attainment of this objective even back in the times of planned economy. Yet, the absence of market mechanisms has not made it possible to achieve substantial results.
The required revision of the national energy policy after 1990 was formulated in a number of official documents adopted at the national level:
National Energy Strategy – aimed at applying a proactive approach and expected to provide for higher efficiency in all processes of energy supply (generation, transmission, distribution and consumption). Energy efficiency is regarded as related to cost reduction, improved competitiveness, security of energy supply and environmental protection.
National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency and Action Plan for Renewable Energy Sources – aimed at improving energy intensity indicators by means of proactive policy for efficient use of energy and energy sources.
The political changes in the country have resulted in decentralisation of all the governance processes and in a stronger focus on the local level in energy management.
Description of project - background
The problem faced by all Bulgarian municipalities in 1990s is how to diminish expenses for energy consumption and increase the energy efficiency of the city infrastructure under complicated social and economic conditions (economic restructuring resulting in high unemployment rate, generally very low income of large social groups and a very modest municipal budget).
EnEffect is a non-profit NGO, founded in 1992, with the aim of supporting the efforts of Bulgarian national and local authorities for the attainment of sustainable development through more efficient energy use.
EcoEnergy is a Municipal Energy Efficiency network of Bulgarian municipalities, established in February 1997 by the initiative of 23 municipalities (EnEffect acts as the Network secretariat). By the end of 2003 the Network included municipalities with 68% of total Bulgarian population.
Description of project - objectives/aims
The project started after a successful application for a Global Environmental Facility (GEF) grant of US$ 2.5 million to a project entitled Energy Efficiency Strategy to Mitigate GHG Emissions Energy Efficiency Demonstration Zone in the city of Gabrovo.
The Energy Efficiency Demonstration Zone in the city of Gabrovo was conceived and developed by the Centre for Energy Efficiency EnEffect in active collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Water, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Municipality of Gabrovo. A large number of local and international institutions and experts were also involved. The project started in May 1998 and continued till the end of 2003. It comprised two major components (see diagram below):
i) Capacity Building – focused on formulating the municipal energy efficiency policy, organising specialised training on energy efficiency, and overcoming of existing financial barriers to energy efficiency.
ii) Demonstration Projects - focused on energy efficiency improvement of the city street lighting facilities, energy efficient renovation of the district heating system and heating end-use, retrofit of buildings (a hospital, a school, a block of flats and an industrial building) in order to increase their energy efficiency.
Project structure
The methodology for developing Municipal Energy Efficiency Programmes (MEEP) aims at integral energy planning to balance specific environmental, social and economic requirements in each municipality. Four types of roles of the Municipalities with regard to energy planning and management are regarded: energy consumers; heat and electricity producers; regulators and investors in the local energy sector; sources of motivation for raising demand- and supply-side energy efficiency and protection of the environment.
The implementation of the Programme covers a broad set of activities:
• Defining the baseline conditions in the municipality – technical, financial, regulation, etc.;
• Analysing, evaluating and defining priority areas and target groups (consumers with similar energy use) – prevailing technical and economic criteria;
• Estimating possible measures – technical, organisational, behavioural, etc.;
• Implementation of the Programme;
• Monitoring and evaluation of results - concerning savings, changes in expenditures for energy, consumption by types of fuel/energy carriers and by municipal sectors, environmental impact, etc.
The programme also includes assessment of the opportunities for increasing motivation of the actors involved. Three main elements are focused upon: (i) analysis of involved actors´ feedback; (ii) identification of key institutions and persons; (iii) analysis of the target groups´ potential to make independent decisions.
The approaches applied to formulate the objectives of MEEP are clustered into two major groups – policy and expert ones. More often the formulated preliminary policy objectives are combined with immediate actions defined by experts - combined approach.
MEEP has been developed during the whole implementation period of the Demonstration Project in Gabrovo. The practical experience gained provided for greater flexibility of both the assessment tool and the Programme by using the ´learning by doing´ approach.
Description of project - time interval and stages
Description of project - financing
Description of project - other sectors involved
The building and the transport (trolleybus) sectors were involved in the development of the Programme for being significant municipal energy consumers.
The city problems with the central heating system were rooted in outdated facilities resulting in considerable energy losses both along the heating network and in the buildings. While about 90% of the flats with central heating were privately owned, the high unemployment rate and low incomes stopped owners from undertaking needed insulation and repair actions.
The measures for increasing energy efficiency of the outdated public transport (trolleybus) infrastructure of the city were hampered by the restricted municipal budget.
No significant conflicts were reported, yet wider collaboration with other sectors was considered difficult at the beginning. Further involvement of other sectors (water supply) is currently discussed.
What tools were used to assess sustainability?
Ranking Criteria for Priority Assessment (RCPA)
More information