Knowledge Exchange and Capacity Building in Environmental Research. Vinnytsia Experience Presented to the European Community in Bavaria

Last week, a Ukrainian delegation, including representatives from Vinnytsia, paid a business visit to Bavaria. The topic of the trip was the exchange of experience in the field of environmental research and green capacity building. For the Vinnytsia community, this is an opportunity to implement innovative environmental solutions: from waste management and water purification to sustainable energy development. Such visits help establish partnerships, attract expertise and prepare for participation in European programmes.

Our community was represented by Olha Remeshevska, Director of the Department of Restoration and Development of Vinnytsia City Council. She told her European colleagues about the development of Vinnytsia in terms of environmental policy and energy management.

‘Vinnytsia has extensive experience in implementing energy efficiency projects. Since 2010, our city has been a member of the Association of Energy Efficient Cities in Ukraine, since 2011 Vinnytsia has become a signatory to the Covenant of Mayors, and in 2015 we became the first city in Ukraine to receive the European Energy Award. A little later, in 2022, we also declared the Green Deal, focusing on the EU's climate goals. Therefore, we continue to actively create conditions for the development of energy efficiency in the community, which, in the context of war and constant hostile attacks on our infrastructure, has become a real necessity for the sustainability of every Ukrainian city,’ said Olha Remeshevska.

As part of one of the panel discussions, she spoke about how renewable energy is developing in our community, in particular thanks to the support of Vinnytsia City Council. It was about the installation of solar power plants at municipal facilities, the residential sector and local businesses.

Thus, more than 100 different companies have already implemented green projects with a capacity of more than 17.3 MW. Some of these companies have received compensation from the community budget. According to her, this is an example of the synergy between city authorities and business to achieve energy independence.