Solar Power Improves Energy Picture in Ukraine
FrontLines - June 2010
By Katya Kopchuk and Olha Myrtsalo
Challenge
|
Children at Kindergarten No. 9 in Bakhchysaray, Crimea, benefit
from USA ID assistance. The kindergarten uses solar panels that
reduce electricity costs.
|
Using energy effectively
and efficiently is one of the
most pressing challenges facing
Ukraine today.
During the summer tourist
season, energy use and costs
peak in Crimea, an autonomous
region inside Ukraine.
“Crimea is one of the
sunniest regions of Ukraine
and enjoys about 280 sunny
days a year. So it’s the most
appropriate place to utilize
solar energy,” said Aleksandr
Slepokurov, head of the
Creative Union of Scientific
and Engineering Societies
of Crimea, an NGO based
in Crimea’s capital city
Simferopol.
“By installing solar panels,
Crimeans can better satisfy
their demand for energy use
and significantly save costs.”
Innovative Response
USAID programs improve
energy efficiency and
conservation in Ukraine by
developing new technologies.
One of USAID’s energy
programs in Ukraine—
Municipal Partnerships
for Better Energy Use—is
designed to involve local
governments and communities
in raising awareness of
the issue, stimulate local
partnerships and innovations,
and strengthen the ability of
local organizations to continue
work in the field.
In 2008, the Creative Union
of Scientific and Engineering
Societies of Crimea was among
the first winners of a nationwide
grant competition in support of
energy conservation funded by
USAID.
| In 2008, the
Creative Union
of Scientific and
Engineering
Societies of
Crimea was
among the first
winners of a
nationwide grant
competition
in support of
energy conservation
funded by
USAID. |
“We were very excited about
the competition. Our team had
been thinking about opportunities
to develop solar energy in Crimea
but we did not have enough
resources,” Slepokurov said.
Under the grant, experts from
the Creative Union researched
harnessing solar energy, evaluated
current use and benefits of solar
power, and listed all suppliers that
provide solar equipment.
To apply this technology more
effectively, the Creative Union
audited the energy efficiency
of 12 public-sector buildings—
including a school, hospital,
and administrative building—
and analyzed energy-saving
opportunities in the Bakhchisaray
district. Based on these audits,
experts developed instructions on
solar panel installation that could
be replicated by local authorities
throughout Crimea.
Results
Kindergarten No. 9 in
Bakhchysaray, Crimea, is
among the first to benefit from
USAID’s assistance. Before the
installment of the solar panels,
water was warmed in a large
cooking pot. Now, this work is
done by solar panels. Hot water
accumulates in the boiler, ready
for use at any time.
By using solar panels, the
kindergarten demonstrated
to the community how it can
cut costs as well as be more
environmentally friendly.
Kindergarten Director
Lyudmila Basenko said “solar
energy helps us not only to
save electricity, but also makes
us less dependent on limited
budget funding. At least we
have warm water for our
children.”
To support solar energy, the
Creative Union set up an
information center in Simferopol
to advise on energy-saving
issues and installation of solarpower
equipment. USAID
funding also enabled the Creative
Union to partner with
four producers of solar equipment,
local governments, and
expert NGOs to expand its
promotion of solar energy.
★
FrontLines is published
by the Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs
U.S. Agency for International Development
To have FrontLines delivered
to you via postal mail, please subscribe.
Material should be submitted
by mail to Editor, FrontLines, USAID,
RRB, Suite 6.10, Washington, DC 20523-6100;
by FAX to 202-216-3035; or by e-mail to frontlines@usaid.gov
To view PDF files, download
the Adobe
Acrobat Reader.
Back to Top ^
|
