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ManagEnergy Workshop Kaunas, Lithuania

15 September 2011

The Covenant of Mayors and SEAP Development: The Role of Municipalities in Implementing and Financing Sustainable Energy Policy

The workshop focused on energy planning and utilising ESCOs and Structural and Cohesion Funds for energy efficiency projects in the municipal building sector. It also provided an insight into the National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) and its implications. It included expert presentations and good practice examples, as well as interactive discussion sessions between the participants and speakers.

The workshop sought to build the capacity of the participants in the following areas:

  • Energy planning (including the preparation of Covenant of Mayors SEAPs) and raising awareness of the benefits of sustainable energy planning;
  • Providing guidance concerning the National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) and its implications;
  • Provision of guidance and training on utilising Structural & Cohesion Funds and other financing schemes for energy efficiency projects.

The key target group(s) were:

  • Energy experts from Covenant of Mayors (CoM) signatory cities / municipalities;
  • Energy experts from cities / municipalities that are potential CoM members, and non-signatory cities / municipalities.

Participants left the workshop with:

  • Increased awareness and more information on the Covenant of Mayors (CoM) initiative
  • Increased knowledge and awareness of the benefits of sustainable energy planning
  • Increased understanding of possible financing schemes for energy actions
  • Increased knowledge of good practice examples from within and outside Lithuania
  • Increased knowledge and understanding of the objectives, strategies and targets of the National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP).

Workshop Conclusions

Feedback

Akmenė district municipality belongs to a category of problematic (from a social perspective) districts in Lithuania. That’s why the government pays special attention to this municipality. Recently 15 % of the blocks of flats in the municipality have been renovated, and local boiler houses have been converted from fossil fuel to renewable-wood. This workshop encouraged us to join the “Energy for Mayors” project and urged us to continue sustainable development in the energy sector.
Mr. Algirdas Bučys, deputy director of administration in the Akmenė district municipality.

Workshop programme and presentations

  • Financing Possibilities in Implementing Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Measures. Good Practices in Utilising Structural Funds for Energy Efficiency Savings - Example from Lithuania (coming soon)
    Arvydas Dragunas, Director, Lithuanian Environmental Investment Fund

Workshop photos

Ms. Roma Žakaitienė (Director, Lithuanian Association of Local Authorities (ALAL)) speaking at the ManagEnergy workshop
Ms. Roma Žakaitienė, Director, Lithuanian Association of Local Authorities (ALAL)

Dr. Feliksas Zinevicius, Director of Kaunas Regional Energy Agency (KREA); Mr Arvydas Dragunas, Director, Lithuanian Environmental Investment Fund
Dr. Feliksas Zinevicius, Director of Kaunas Regional Energy Agency (KREA)
Mr. Arvydas Dragunas, Director, Lithuanian Environmental Investment Fund

Deputy Mayor of Kaunas, Mr. Stanislovas Buškevičius
Deputy Mayor of Kaunas, Mr. Stanislovas Buškevičius, welcoming participants and explaining the Kaunas municipality’s own sustainable energy vision

Ms. Inete Ielite; Mr Egidijus Purlys
Ms. Inete Ielite, Riga Energy Agency Management Board Member, on Riga city municipality’s experience in implementing “Covenant of Mayors” commitments; Mr Egidijus Purlys, Deputy Director, Ministry of Energy Renewable Energy Sources Division

Mr Seán Burke, ManagEnergy Initiative
Mr. Seán Burke, ManagEnergy Initiative, speaking on the Covenant of Mayors

Questions and discussion at the workshop
Questions and answers at the workshop