Uzbekistan to invest in improving energy efficiency of public buildings

The Clean Energy for Buildings Project: Boosting Energy Efficiency in Uzbekistan

The Ministry of Energy and the World Bank recently hosted an event to mark the official launch of the Clean Energy for Buildings Project in Uzbekistan. This collaborative project aims to enhance energy efficiency in public buildings and establish a more favorable framework for clean energy investments in the buildings sector. The event provided government officials, private sector representatives, and the media with detailed information about the project’s purpose, objectives, and activities.

The Importance of Energy Efficiency in the Buildings Sector

In Uzbekistan, the buildings sector accounts for 50 percent of the total final energy consumption, with the industry and transport sectors following at 22 percent and 20 percent, respectively. Within the public buildings sector, heating alone is responsible for significant energy consumption: 70 percent in regional hospitals, 84 percent in pre-schools, 88 percent in rural clinics, and a staggering 97 percent in public schools.

Many public buildings in the country were constructed during the 1970s and 1980s without much consideration for energy efficiency. As a result, these facilities suffer from poor insulation, operate below thermal comfort standards, and utilize outdated boilers and water heating systems with high energy intensity.

The Potential for Energy Savings

In 2021, the World Bank conducted a study that revealed the substantial energy savings potential in pre-schools, schools, and healthcare facilities across Uzbekistan. The study estimated that annual energy savings could exceed 7,000 GWh, including thermal savings of approximately 6,810 GWh and electricity savings of over 240 GWh.

The World Bank’s Financial Support

In June 2022, the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved a $143 million concessional credit for Uzbekistan to implement the Clean Energy for Buildings Project. This funding will be invested in improving the energy efficiency of public buildings throughout the country, thereby enhancing the building sector’s resilience to climate change, reducing energy consumption, and lowering gas emissions.

Implementation and Stakeholders

The project activities commenced following the adoption of Resolution No. 106 by the President of Uzbekistan on March 30, 2023. The Intersectoral Energy Savings Fund (IESF), under the Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan, is responsible for implementing the project. The IESF was established in 2020 to finance activities that enhance energy efficiency in the industrial, social, and residential sectors.

Under this project, the IESF will finance energy efficiency improvements in buildings under the Ministry of Pre-school and School Education and the Ministry of Health, both in rural and urban areas. Over the project’s life cycle from 2023 to 2028, more than 500 social facilities, including pre-schools, schools, hospitals, and polyclinics, will be modernized and refurbished to enhance their energy efficiency.

Key Project Activities

The services provided by the IESF will include energy audits, design of energy efficiency measures, procurement and financing of works, as well as measurement and verification of energy savings. Typical energy efficiency measures will involve insulation and improvement of building envelopes, upgrading heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and lighting systems, and replacing coal boilers with renewable energy options such as integrated solar electricity panels with heat pumps and/or solar collectors.

Benefits and Outcomes

The public buildings covered by the project will be modernized to meet national thermal comfort standards and avoid under- or overheating. The project activities will result in reduced energy consumption, improved air quality, enhanced energy supply security (especially during winter months), and higher quality public services, providing improved comfort to users of educational and health facilities.

In addition to these direct benefits, the project will also enhance the IESF’s capacity to implement clean energy investments across various sectors. It will support the launch of the National Building Energy Efficiency Program, facilitate the development of legislation regulating the clean energy investments market, and conduct public outreach activities to raise awareness about energy efficiency.

Project Launch and Stakeholder Engagement

The project launch event was attended by Minister of Energy Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov, senior officials from various ministries and agencies, representatives from the private sector, and journalists. The World Bank Group was represented by World Bank Country Manager for Uzbekistan Marco Mantovanelli and International Finance Corporation Country Manager for Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan Neil McKain.

During the event, participants were informed about the project’s role in creating an enabling environment for energy efficiency in Uzbekistan. They were briefed on the planned project activities, expected results, and social benefits. The event also featured presentations by World Bank and foreign experts who shared their experiences with similar projects implemented in countries such as Mexico, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Turkey.

Furthermore, representatives from local and foreign firms and companies interested in providing goods and services required for project activities were informed about the opportunities to participate in relevant tenders that will be held under the project. These opportunities include supplying energy-efficient equipment, offering audit and design services, as well as engaging in construction works.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   • Target 7.3: By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency
   • Indicator 7.3.1: Energy intensity measured in terms of primary energy and GDP

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management
   • Indicator 11.6.1: Proportion of urban solid waste regularly collected and with adequate final discharge out of total urban solid waste generated, by cities

3. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
   • Indicator 13.2.1: Number of countries that have communicated the strengthening of institutional, systemic, and individual capacity-building to implement adaptation, mitigation, and technology transfer

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Analysis

The issues highlighted in the article are related to energy efficiency in public buildings and clean energy investments in the buildings sector. Based on this, the following SDGs, targets, and indicators can be identified:

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

This SDG is directly connected to the issue of boosting energy efficiency in public buildings and creating a better framework for clean energy investments. The target under this SDG that can be identified is:

• Target 7.3: By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency

This target is relevant because the project aims to improve energy efficiency in public buildings, which will contribute to the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency. The indicator that can be used to measure progress towards this target is:

• Indicator 7.3.1: Energy intensity measured in terms of primary energy and GDP

This indicator can be used to measure the energy intensity in public buildings before and after the implementation of energy efficiency measures.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

This SDG is connected to the issue of creating an enabling environment for energy efficiency in public buildings and reducing the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities. The target under this SDG that can be identified is:

• Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management

This target is relevant because improving energy efficiency in public buildings will contribute to reducing the adverse environmental impact of cities. The indicator that can be used to measure progress towards this target is:

• Indicator 11.6.1: Proportion of urban solid waste regularly collected and with adequate final discharge out of total urban solid waste generated, by cities

This indicator can be used to measure the proportion of waste generated by public buildings that is properly managed and disposed of, which will contribute to reducing the environmental impact of cities.

SDG 13: Climate Action

This SDG is connected to the issue of reducing energy consumption and gas emissions in public buildings, as well as strengthening the building sector’s resilience to climate change. The target under this SDG that can be identified is:

• Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning

This target is relevant because the project aims to integrate climate change measures, such as improving energy efficiency and reducing gas emissions, into national policies and strategies. The indicator that can be used to measure progress towards this target is:

• Indicator 13.2.1: Number of countries that have communicated the strengthening of institutional, systemic, and individual capacity-building to implement adaptation, mitigation, and technology transfer

This indicator can be used to measure the number of countries, including Uzbekistan, that have communicated their efforts to strengthen capacity-building for implementing climate change measures in the building sector.

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Source: akipress.com

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