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Description
The aim of the project is to increase the capacity of four Bulgarian municipalities- Smolyan, Asenovgrad, Svilengrad and Krushari to plan, monitor, evaluate and implement their strategic programmes for climate change measures and subsequently to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to the anticipated adverse consequences from climate change. Project activities include tailor-made training programs, highlighting good practices from donor partner, implementation of measures set out in the plans for sustainable energy development and climate, introduction of an intelligent energy monitoring system and others.
The project also focuses on the needs of municipalities for training and capacity building of employees and implementation of measures for production of electricity and heat from renewable sources and conducting energy efficiency surveys set out in the EE programs of the partner municipalities.
At the same time there will be activities for introduction of pilot intelligent energy monitoring system of energy consumption and production in buildings and monitoring of the potential of solar and wind energy, as the acquired knowledge and results will be implemented in new or updated existing programs to promote the use of renewable energy sources (RES) of the partner municipalities.
The project is in line with the EU 2030 targets for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to the EU ambition for a climate-neutral economy by 2050.
More information about the project could be found here:
Summary of project results
The expected result was the introduction of 6 installations for production of energy from renewable sources. For installations 1,3,4,5,6 annual (total) production of electricity in the amount of 150 MWh is expected, and for installation 2 production of electricity 30 MWh and heat 90 MWh is expected. The produced energy will be used at the place of production (for own needs), which will reduce the energy consumption of the specific building. The estimated amount of saved emissions from each of the installations 1,3,4,5,6 is - 20 475 t / year., And for installation 2 - 98 280t / year. The total amount of saved emissions as a result of the constructed installations amounts to 200 655 tCO2. The built stations for charging electric cars in the town of Svilengrad will allow charging electric cars of citizens and guests of the municipality with green energy produced by renewable energy sources. The construction of the installations will increase the energy independence of the partner municipalities, allowing the transfer of experience and knowledge both in future energy efficiency programs and plans, and to the target groups specified in the current energy efficiency plans and programs to promote energy use of renewable sources and biofuels. The results of the project implementation will also indicate an impact on the implementation of the climate adaptation plans at regional and national level.
As a result of the successful implementation of the public procurement, is created a Smart Center for intelligent energy monitoring and management which is be situated on the territory of the Municipality of Smolyan. The goal for monitoring the data from the constructed installations, monitoring of solar radiation and wind speed in the urbanized territories of the partner municipalities will be realized. A complete monitoring of the energy produced and consumed by the swimming pool building on the territory of the municipality of Smolyan and the produced and consumed electricity at the other buildings in the partner municipalities will be carried out. All information will be published on the project website and visualized on the websites of the partner municipalities. The summarized information will be used for analysis of the project implementation and allow multiplication of the positive results. The data obtained from solar radiation transmitters, wind speed sensor, in addition to direct reflection in plans and programs for adaptation to climate change, will assist local and foreign investors in the development and implementation of installations for the production of renewable energy /wind and sun/.
As a result of the implemented activities a report and a summary are prepared in order to reflect the results of establishing the normalized energy consumption of a building in its current state at the time of the survey, the identified specific options for reducing normalized energy consumption while ensuring regulatory compliance of the microclimate, carrying out a technical and economic assessment of the measures for increasing the energy efficiency of the building, as well as an assessment of the CO2 emissions that will be saved as a result of the implementation of measures for increasing the energy efficiency. Last but not least, an analysis of the possibilities for the use of energy from renewable resources and proof of technical feasibility and economic feasibility will be prepared. A certificate for energy performance of a building in operation is issued with the corresponding energy consumption class according to the scale of energy consumption classes. The assessment of energy savings proves the actual energy savings achieved as a result of the implementation of one or more measures to increase energy efficiency in buildings.
As a result, the energy policy of the partner municipalities will be updated, including the introduction of new good practices, including those acquired as a result of increased qualification or communicated with the partner by the donor countries. The objectives of the project will be fulfilled in its part - Evaluation of the municipal plans regarding the implementation of the objectives for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and outlined measures for adaptation to climate change. Developed programs at the local level to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change. The developed programs will be in accordance with the development of the planning region, the peculiarities, the potential of the municipality and the current municipal energy efficiency plans. As a result, the programs will set current implementation goals, which have included the potential for project implementation.
As a result of the activity, 16 employees of the partner municipalities (9 women and 7 men) will improve their qualification, support their personal development, gain experience in the field of planning and implementation of measures for mitigation or adaptation to climate change and evaluation of the impact of the policies.
Delivery and installation of an installation and charging station for the Sports Hall building in Svilengrad Municipality.
Delivery and installation of the installation for the Krushari Municipality building.
Delivery and installation of the installations for the MHAT and the city library in Asenovgrad Municipality.
Delivery and installation of the installations for a swimming pool and the Sports Hall in Smolyan Municipality.
A charging station for electric vehicles has been built in Svilengrad.
A Smart Center for intelligent energy monitoring and management with a dispatch point has been established on the territory of Smolyan Municipality.
11 initial energy efficiency surveys of buildings in Krushari Municipality have been prepared.
4 subsequent energy efficiency surveys of buildings in Smolyan Municipality have been prepared.
11 subsequent energy efficiency surveys of buildings in Svilengrad Municipality have been prepared.
Short-term programs of Smolyan Municipality, Municipality of Svilengrad, Asenovgrad Municipality and Krushari Municipality.
Increasing the capacity of municipal employees through self-assessment and exchange of experience.
16 employees of the partner municipalities have improved their qualifications, gaining experience and additional knowledge in the field of planning and implementing measures to mitigate or adapt to climate change and assessing the impact of policies.
6 installations for the production of energy from renewable sources have been introduced. An intelligent energy monitoring system has been introduced - Smart Center for monitoring production, consumption and potential of energy. Improved skills and expertise of municipal employees through training and exchange of experience.
Municipality of Svilengrad - design, delivery and installation of the installation of the Sports Hall building and charging station was carried out. Between 25 and 30 MWh per year have been produced so far, and emissions saved are about 23 t. - Municipality of Krushari - a public procurement was carried out, the design, delivery and installation of the installation of the building of the Municipality of Krushari was carried out. About 20 MWh produced and about 9.22 tCO2 saved for this year. - Municipality of Asenovgrad - design, delivery and installation of the installations of the MBAL and the city library. The activity was completed and accepted. A total of 64 MWh were produced, and the emissions saved were 51.55 t. - Municipality of Smolyan - design, prepared and approved projects for the installations of the Swimming Pool and the Sports Hall. The activity ended in May 2024 from then to now the data is as follows: 58 MWh of energy produced and 29 t. emissions saved. Since one year of operation has not yet passed, at this time no exact information can be given on the total amount for one year of energy produced and emissions saved for all installations under the project. As a result of the implementation of activity 3, through the capabilities of the Smart Center, after one year we will have complete information on energy produced, emissions saved, etc.
Made 11 pcs. initial surveys for energy efficiency of buildings in Krushari Municipality; Prepared 4 pcs. subsequent surveys for energy efficiency of buildings in the Municipality of Smolyan; Made 11 pcs. subsequent surveys for energy efficiency of buildings in the Municipality of Svilengrad;
The training took place in the period 07-08 June 2023. For the implementation of this activity, a contractor was selected according to the order of ZOP. The selected contractor provided a hall, lecturer, materials, coffee breaks for the training days, as well as accommodation and food for 7 experts from the municipalities - guests. The lecturer was Dr. Maria Trifonova, ch. assistant at SU "St. Kliment Ohridski". The topics she presented included monitoring, analysis and evaluation of the implementation of strategic plans, programs and projects for mitigation or adaptation to climate change, international and European policies regarding environmental protection and climate change, data and information processing, for data analysis and development of models for future changes in climate and water resources, energy communities and the challenges to their creation and management, etc. The representatives of the Norwegian partner also participated in the training, who presented their experience and the experience of the municipality of Trondheim, Norway, in the field of energy efficiency and adaptation to climate change. In order to familiarize themselves with additional innovative practices and exchange experience, the Bulgarian participants in the training participated in one of the panels of a training session under the +Cityxchange project, under the Horizon 2020 Program, implemented by the Municipality of Smolyan in partnership with a total of 32 partners, as a leading partner is the University of Trondheim. During this panel, the partners presented their experience, as a representative of the company "Ekoten" from the Czech Republic, presented a concrete example of the modernization of a school and the area around it, of its transformation into an energy-positive complex, showing a real example of the use of innovative solutions and technologies for adaptation to climate change. During the training, a representative of the other project partner - "Pleiades Bulgaria" Ltd. was also present.
Summary of bilateral results
During the project implementation period, several on-line meetings and communication were held with the Norwegian partner for their participation in the project.As part of the activity, the visit of the Norwegian experts, representatives of NTNU - prof. Annemie Wickmans and Dr. Dirk Ahlers.Their visit took place during the training of municipal officials from the four partner municipalities, in which they were one of the speakers and presented their experience and the experience of the municipality of Trondheim, Norway, in the field of energy efficiency and adaptation to climate change. In order to familiarize themselves with additional innovative practices and exchange experience, the Bulgarian participants in the training participated in one of the panels of a training session under the +Cityxchange project, under the Horizon 2020 Program, implemented by the Municipality of Smolyan in partnership with a total of 32 partners, as a leading partner is the University of Trondheim. During this panel, the partners presented their experience, as a representative of the company "Ekoten" from the Czech Republic, presented a concrete example of the modernization of a school and the area around it, of its transformation into an energy-positive complex, showing a real example of the use of innovative solutions and technologies for adaptation to climate change. Information on good practices from Norway, prepared by Prof. Wickmans and Dr. Ahlers.