Since July 2023, the team of East Europe Foundation has been working on the “Power Up!” project. One of the areas of work is the implementation of energy efficiency measures in the building of the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine.

In collaboration with our colleagues from the project “Promotion of Energy Efficiency and Implementation of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive in Ukraine”, we had the privilege of presenting the results of our labor at the Ministry of Finance to the project’s partners and supporters, in particular, the management team of GIZ management, representatives of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany Kyiv, the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine, and the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine.

The “Power Up!” project is generously funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and supported by GIZ.

In less than a year, we have accomplished the following:

• installation of 118 solar panels with a capacity of 60 kW, covering an area of 310 m²
• modernization and equipping of two individual heating stations
• insulation of 2 km of pipelines in the basement
• replacement of approximately 600 lighting bulbs both inside and outside the building
• repair of over 200 windows to minimize heat loss and prevent drafts in the workplace
• implementation of an automated energy monitoring system for the entire building

The daily electricity generation of solar panels allows us to provide electricity to up to 100 workplaces during the year.

“Today, East Europe Foundation recognizes the urgent need to concentrate on energy-efficient projects and secure funding in this domain like never before. We are committed to actively advocating for the energy independence of Ukrainian institutions and agencies at all levels.

Despite the enemy’s attempts to dismantle our energy sector and plunge the country into darkness, we stand united, persist in our efforts, and continuously seek new opportunities to relentlessly combat the darkness,” Victor Liakh, President of East Europe Foundation, stated.

During the tour of the Ministry’s building, the partners were able to witness the outcomes of our work and gain insights into the implemented measures.

Due to the “Power Up!” project:

• Heat and electricity savings are expected to be around 15%
• CO₂ emissions will be reduced by almost 120 tons per year
• The Ministry’s budget savings are projected to be UAH 1.3 million per year

Simple payback period of the project is 8.2 years.

“Recognizing the critical importance of implementing energy efficiency measures and developing alternative energy sources to conserve energy resources during the Russian aggression, we deeply appreciate the concerted efforts made by the Ministry of Finance to realize this vision.

This project serves as a shining beacon of the practical implementation of Article 5 of EU Directive 27 and stands as the first comprehensive initiative in Ukraine to demonstrate the exemplary role of government buildings in enhancing energy efficiency,” Gregor Broemling, Project Director of the project “Promotion of Energy Efficiency and Implementation of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive in Ukraine”, said.

Photo: Gregor Broemling (left), Director of the GIZ Project “Promotion of Energy Efficiency and Implementation of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive in Ukraine”

At the conclusion of the tour, the participants had the opportunity to discuss their observations and share their impressions. The key takeaway from the meeting is that striving towards energy independence is of paramount importance today, hence projects like “Power Up!” in Ukraine should persist and expand.

“This project actually started in 2021, as a large component is related to preparatory activities and energy audits. What we see today are the results of our work. But behind them lie hundreds of ideas, countless hours of meetings and modeling, and most importantly, people. I am sincerely grateful to GIZ and the EEF for the successful implementation of the activities in the Ministry’s building.

For me, this project holds great significance, as I can now not only discuss it but also set a precedent for my colleagues from other institutions. I firmly believe that energy efficiency alters attitudes towards life. And I see numerous examples of this,” Dmytro Samonenko, State Secretary of the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, expressed.

Photo: Dmytro Samonenko (left) and Martin Breitmaier, Deputy Head of Cooperation, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany Kyiv (right) with a gift from the EEF – a photo of the solar power plant.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to the realization of the “Power Up!” project. We are confident that together, we can achieve even more in the future. After all, our potent synergy can truly benefit Ukraine.

The “Power Up!” project is implemented by East Europe Foundation and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in frame of the project “Promotion of Energy Efficiency and Implementation of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive in Ukraine”