About the Project

Title of the project: „Removing Barriers to Promote and Support the Energy Management System in Municipalities in Serbia“

Key information about the project

Project preparation: 2014-2015

Project duration: 2015-2020

Project funding: The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is providing US$ 2.300.000 and the UNDP US$ 200,000. Including co-financing, the project will have a total volume of US$. 22.100.000 Co-financing will be provided by the Ministry of Mining and Energy, municipalities, Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and German Development Bank (KfW).

Main project partner: Ministry of Mining and Energy

Other project partner: Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM), Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and German Development Bank (KfW).

Project context:

By accepting the Decision of the Ministerial Council of Energy Community dated December 2009 on the implementation of EU Directive on Energy Efficiency and Energy Services, Serbia is committed to produce three National Energy Efficiency Action plans (NEEAPs) in 2010, 2013 and 2016 and reach national indicative energy savings target of 9% of the final inland energy consumption, in the period between 2010 and 2018. Such ambitious goal requires systemic approach which Serbia has defined by the Law on Efficient Use of Energy and accompanying bylaws. According to the Law, units of local self-government with populations exceeding 20,000 are mandatory reporting entities of the energy management system, meaning that they are obliged to appoint the necessary number of energy managers, adopt energy efficiency plans and programs, implement energy efficiency measures, submit annual reports on primary energy consumption and achieve the targets for energy savings as prescribed by the Decree on determining the annual energy saving targets. Preparatory activities which included the development of the legal framework and raising of institutional capacities for implementation of the energy management system in Serbia have been implemented in the period from 2009 – 2016 with the support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the continuation of support to local self-government shall be provided within the UNDP/GEF project „Removing Barriers to Promote and Support the Energy Management System in Municipalities in Serbia“

General project goal: To increase investments in energy efficiency in public buildings and utility services within the competences of municipalities in order to improve their energy and cost efficiency.

Specific project objectives:

1. Establish an enabling legal framework for introduction and efficient operation of the energy management system in LSG and implementation for relevant EE measures;
2. Establish the institutional framework, or functional central and local units to support the energy management system with built capacities for implementation of the Energy Management Information System and implementation of EE projects;
3. Implementation of at least 10 demonstration energy efficiency projects, identified and implemented within the energy management system with the use of Energy Management Information System;
4. Signing of the Energy Efficiency Charter by towns and municipalities by 80% of local governments in Serbia in order to raise public awareness and capacities for implementation for the energy management system and increase investments in energy efficiency.

Project performance indicators:

• Reducing equivalent emissions of CО₂ expressed as direct result of project activities relative to 150 kt during 15 years of lifecycle of investment in energy efficiency measures.
• Incremental savings of primary energy of at least 94 ТЈ/year, or 1,400 ТЈ during 15 years of lifecycle of investment in energy efficiency and other project contributing measures.
• Value of energy efficiency investment in public buildings and utility services in the competence of municipalities which are directly supported by the project in the amount of 15 m USD until the end of the project.
• The energy management system established in 30 municipalities with the support of the project.

Project components

1. Development of legal and regulatory framework related to energy efficiency

• Monitoring the implementation of pertinent regulations, identification of barriers for their implementation and formulating recommendations for removal of identified barriers;
• Drafting new and reviewing existing laws/regulations relevant to energy efficiency;
• Development and support of voluntary standards and public sector initiatives (ex. „green procurements“, etc.).

2. Development of institutional framework for energy efficiency

• Central project support unit within the existing structure of the MME established;
• Energy Management Information System introduced in all units of LSG;
• Units (offices) for support to energy management established in at least 30 units of local self-government established;
• National network of municipal energy managers established;
• Series of training courses on different aspects of energy management for energy managers and technical staff of municipalities delivered;
• Established and regularly updated national data base on public buildings;
• Energy efficiency programs developed in 30 units of LSG.

3. Co-financing of at least 10 demonstration energy efficiency projects in public buildings / utility services on the basis of public call to units of LSG

• Technical assistance provided for implementation of approved projects;
• Co-financing of projects;
• Demonstration projects results documented and published, and energy savings results and reduced emissions of GHG monitored and verified;
• Technical support provided for identification and preparation of energy efficiency projects in other units of local self-government (preparation of energy balances, feasibility studies, project optimization in terms of technical and financial criteria and available funding criteria).

4. Raising public awareness regarding energy efficiency

• Energy efficiency charter of towns and municipalities signed by 80% LSG in Serbia in order to raise capacities for implementation of the energy management system and increasing investments in energy efficiency;
• Curricula and textbooks covering energy efficiency and use of renewable energy sources for at least 3 professions (electrical, mechanical and construction) developed and introduced in use in at least 10 different occupational schools;
• Manuals for energy managers in municipalities and buildings developed as well as Instructions for the use of the Energy Management Information System;
• Awareness raising campaigns on the significance of energy efficiency and energy management implemented.