New Approaches to Energy Efficiency in the Community: Vinnytsia Liaison Office in Brussels Engages International Partners in Cooperation

New approaches to energy efficiency are the result of the work of Victoriia Vdovychenko, an advisor to the mayor. The Vinnytsia resident works at our city's Liaison Office in Brussels. She submitted a grant application to SEI Tallinn (Stockholm Environment Institute in Tallinn) and enlisted the support of foreign donors.

As a result of this initiative, Vinnytsia City Council's Department of Reconstruction and Development began cooperation with SEI Tallinn under the Program "Enhancing Grid Resilience and Infrastructure Development in Ukraine - UA GRIDEX" to study the "Off the Grid" initiative and was able to install smart meters in the community.

"This project aims not only to technically improve Vinnytsia's energy system, but also to support broader cooperation in energy modeling, risk assessment, and resource optimization. With the experience and support of Estonian partners, the idea is aimed at increasing the resilience and reliability of energy systems, namely in terms of decentralization and autonomy at times of power loss in the centralized energy system," says Viktoriia Vdovychenko.

The project involves analyzing the challenges facing the community. Based on the monitoring results, the most optimal locations for installing the devices will be identified. "They will be identified as potential electricity consumers and district heating service providers, identifying critical infrastructure facilities that will receive services from these facilities," explains Viktoriia Yavorovenko, Head of the Energy Management and Barrier-Free Division of the City Council's Department of Reconstruction and Development.

Currently, the project is at the stage of developing methodological recommendations from SEI Tallinn, analyzing the existing challenges, which will be presented in a report.

"This is an interesting and promising idea that will help ensure the sustainability and independence of the energy supply system," adds Viktoriia Vdovychenko, an advisor to the mayor.

The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by russian troops has caused significant changes in social and energy regulation, forcing society to adapt to new challenges. The consequences of the war, including an increase in the number of internally displaced persons and economic difficulties, have significantly affected the livelihoods of citizens, creating a need for immediate action by the government to ensure order.

"Vinnytsia, like many other cities, has become a refuge for those seeking protection from the consequences of russian aggression against Ukraine. This has put a significant strain on the local infrastructure, particularly the energy system, prompting Vinnytsia to look for new international partners who could share their experience in dealing with such challenges," says Olha Remeshevska, Director of the City Council's Department of Reconstruction and Development.

The UA GRIDEX project started in December 2023 and will last until December 2024.