Copenhagen will help Krasnodar to implement energy efficiency projects

The municipalities of Krasnodar and Copenhagen are preparing an agreement on cooperation in the field of energy conservation, development of energy-efficient urban environment, and use of renewable and alternative sources of energy. The practical result of these agreements may be the creation of a territorial cluster where Russian and Danish companies can implement joint innovation projects in the capital of Kuban.

— Let us choose a neighborhood that we will equip with the latest energy-saving technologies, and so we will have an opportunity to promote these ideas throughout the city and farther. I am sure this project will be the best advertisement of our relationships, and will attract scientists and businessmen dealing with new technologies. I would be delighted if the implementation of these projects starts in Krasnodar in the near future, - said the head of the city Vladimir Evlanov at the meeting with business leaders of Denmark.

The foreign delegation was headed by the Head of Department of Climate Change and Environmental Protection of Copenhagen Thomas Christensen. There also were Director of projects of «Copenhagen Cluster of Clean Technologies» Nilab Singh, Director of the Russian-Danish Centre for Energy Efficiency («RuDanEnergo»), Michael Pederson, Project director of Export Credit Fund of Denmark Jørgen Boles, and official representatives of such leading Danish companies as Logstor , Grundfos, Danfoss, Broen.

According to Thomas Christensen a lot of projects and solutions to organization of living spaces, energy conservation, environmental protection and resource management, which are convenient for Russia, where the population is concentrated in small, medium and large cities, have been developed in Denmark.

Krasnodar is the economic center of southern Russia, and agriculture, industry and trade are developed there. Representatives of Denmark regularly have contacts with the residents of Krasnodar. In particular, the issues of collection, disposal and recycling of solid waste were discussed in May. Later, Vice Mayor Dmitry Mednikov visited Denmark as part of a delegation. During his visit, he signed a memorandum with «RuDanEnergo» on exchange of information and experience in the field of energy efficiency and the maintenance of joint activities in this sphere.

— When I visited Copenhagen, I was inspired by what I saw. I'm sure that such solutions will be in demand in Krasnodar. We welcome Danish companies in our region and look forward to working together - said Dmitry Mednikov during today's meeting.

Thomas Christensen briefly introduced the participants with «Copenhagen Climate Plan» which has been implemented in the city since 2012. As a result of this ambitious project Copenhagen will be the first capital in the world which will not produce carbon emissions by 2025. The plan includes a large-scale reconstruction of buildings, installation of new wind turbines and transport reform. $ 4.7 billion will be spent over the next 13 years to complete the project.

It is expected that Copenhagen will reduce carbon emissions by 20% compared to 2005 levels by 2015, and there will be no emissions at all by 2025. Emissions will be reduced by 74% through greater use of wind, geothermal springs, and building of a new power plant, which will use utilizable junk as fuel. It is planned to introduce new technologies in the field of sorting plastic waste so it does not hit the furnace of district heating.

There are some strategic objectives as well. They are reduction of demand for heating by 20% and reduction of commercial and household consumption of electricity by 20% and 10% respectively. In addition, solar batteries will be installed on rooftops. They will provide 1% of the city's demand for electricity by 2025.

It is planned to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by another 11% by expanding the network of cycle paths, switch of all transport to bioethanol and biogas, and use of electric vehicles. It is expected that 75% of all movements in Copenhagen will be by public transport, bicycles and on foot.

According to Vladimir Evlanov, Denmark has one of the best experiences in the implementation of energy-saving projects. There are examples of projects in this area in Krasnodar - from residential homes to large industrial enterprises, but there is still a lot to do. For that purpose, the city is implementing a municipal program «Energy conservation and energy efficiency in Krasnodar in 2011 - 2015 years and up to 2020».

Source: Official Website of the municipal administration of Krasnodar and the Krasnodar City Duma

17.10.2012

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