In 2005-2009 years with support of U.S. Agency for International Development Winrock Georgia successfully implemented the Rural Energy Program, which focused to increase grid and off-grid supply, build local capacity for energy production, promote energy efficiency and use of alternative energy resources, and improve sustainable natural resource management.
The program achieved increase of supply of grid and off-grid energy to some participating communities, building local capacity for energy production, promotion of energy efficiency and use of alternative energy resources, and improvement of sustainable natural resource management. REP also focused on areas that offered the greatest potential to meet local energy demands. Several energy efficiency projects, using locally available renewable resources, have explored the greater use of biomass (crop and processing wastes), biogas (generated by livestock production), solar power and other energy sources.
New Applied Technology Efficiency and Lighting Initiative (NATELI 1)
The New Applied Technology Efficiency and Lighting Initiative (NATELI) was a two year activity and extension of the Rural Energy Program, successfully implemented by Winrock International from October 2009 –through September 2011 designed to promote energy efficiency and to a lesser extent renewable energy application in Georgia. The program was supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development and implemented by Winrock International.
The objective of the program was to promote energy efficiency to the Georgian public and business sectors, and to design financial, technical and operational frameworks to foster the development and implementation of energy efficiency projects. NATELI focused on some of Georgia’s larger energy consumers - hospitals and condominium associations - and helped them implement energy efficiency measures, decreasing their energy consumption and therefore energy costs. This work included public outreach and environmental activities.
In
September 2011 NATELI has been extended as NATELI II, which focuses on three
activities:
RURAL CLEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT - development of small-scale
renewable energy (RE) installations that provide clean, affordable energy to off-grid
rural villages. The goal of Activity 1 is to help stimulate economic growth in
rural Georgia through provision of modern renewable energy services. To assist
in enterprise development, the project will conduct feasibility assessments for
village-level RE use while identifying productive energy use options to spur
local growth and support small-scale renewable energy system manufacturers,
installers, and maintenance organizations.
ENERGY
CAPACITY - capacity building in energy sector through providing technical
assistance, grant funding and training to Georgia’s energy sector institutions,
universities and the Government of Georgia.
ENERGY BUS - established as a continued funding mechanism for the BP/USAID/EBRD supported Energy Bus Project. This funding replaces a portion of funding lost with the exit of OSCE from Georgia. In addition, Winrock Georgia will monitor Energy Bus activities through the life of the Initiative.