Website: www.gov.si/aure
Summary
The
Slovene Government and UNDP signed the contract for the project "Removing Barriers to the
Increased Use of Biomass as an Energy Source" on 13 December 2001. Promoter of the project is
Department for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the Ministry of Environment and
Spatial Planning.
This project has been executed nationwide in Slovenia since 2002 and will end in the first half of 2007. The long term development objective of the project has been to remove barriers to the increased use of biomass as an energy source, thereby reducing the fossil fuel consumption and the associated greenhouse gas emissions. The project has also envisioned the support to promotional and training activities, finalisation of feasibility studies (FS) and business plans and preparation of Draft National Biomass Energy Plan.
During the lifetime of the project, 8 new biomass district heating (BDH) projects have been developed (in comparison to at least 3-5 projects required in the Project Document) using innovative financing by means of equities and introducing the revolving found. The picture to the right shows the situation of new BDH projects, as well as before existing projects in Slovenia.
Results
This GEF project was designed to support the development of the initial BDH projects by covering the learning costs, reducing investor risks and demonstrating the technical and financial feasibility of the projects to the local communities and residents. The project has focused on district-heating technologies, but other biomass uses and applications, such as individual biomass boilers have also been deled with. The list of realized investment projects is seen from the table above and shows higher result, as planned.
The project supported 40 feasibility studies for BDH projects. Studies for communities were prepared according to the requirements of the relevant local and international financial organisations. The investment proposals brokerage event was organised in April 2004 to stimulate the networking of communities with promising FS-s and interested strategic partners willing to discuss the possibilities for their co-funding.
The PIU has conducted meetings with more than 50 communities and industry representatives to raise public awareness, provide information and support the development of projects. In addition, training materials have been developed to ensure the proper development of the local public acceptance of BDH projects.
In all 4 years of project duration, the PIU has managed the tender process and project activities, including capacity building, developing a pipeline of projects for the Fund, and promoting the sustainable use of biomass in Slovenia. Education for planners of small-scale biomass boilers, as well as for professional staff engaged with their installation and operation (installers, chimney sweepers) and permanent education of planners in the field of larger installations have been important part of the project. Specialized two two-days trainings were organized for the staff involved in the implementation of the Quality Management Systems at developing BDH projects in Slovenia.
An effective web site containing brochures and leaflets downloadable in electronic format and a lot of more technical information on all aspects of the biomass industry in Slovenia has been developed. The internet page www.gov.si/aure has been continuously updated.
The project has had the immediate impact of stimulating 2.5 million of grant funds from the government of Slovenia that would not have otherwise been provided. Government ministries have become more aware of the potential of biomass energy. Targets for biomass energy have been specified in the National Energy Plan relative to achieving the Kyoto targets for Slovenia. Energy companies, communities, equipment suppliers, consultants, public relations companies, mass-media and NGOs have focused attention of biomass energy because of this project.
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Biomass & Bioenergy
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Case Study (204 Kb PDF)