One of the components of the project focuses on energy efficiency efforts for higher education facilities. The project conducted energy audits at GTU and based on the results, collaborated with GTU in renovated the lighting and heating systems. These activities allowed GTU to save 15,242 GEL annually and consume 102,366Kwh less electricity. With these improvements, in addition to new equipment and training manual being provided to the laboratory through NATELI enables GTU to fulfill energy audits.
The openining ceremony of the newly rehabilitated laboratory took place on January 21, 2011 at GTU. Representatives
from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) joined Georgia’s First Deputy Minister of Energy
Mariam Valishvili, and Georgian Technical University (GTU) Rector Archil
Phrangishvili at the opening ceremony. The event was conducted by USAID and NATELI in cooperation with the Management of the Georgian
Technical University.
NATELI continued cooperation with GTU. Under
this activity NATELI transferred to GTU the EE testing equipment with total
value of $39,977. This equipment
includes: thermal imaging camera; digital
stroboscopes; temperature and humidity meters; thermometers;
thermal leak detector and etc. In parallel NATELI facilitated transfer of EE
testing equipment to GTU from the Ministry of Energy of Georgia (US $ 5,307.00)
and granted gas analyzer Testo 335 (4,034.00), which was purchased under the
Rural Energy Program. Thanks to the equipment transfer, GTU will create
fully equipped Laboratory of Energy
Audit and Diagnosis which will be jointly used by the Faculty of Energy
and Telecommunication and Building Faculty. Development of energy audit manual,
implementation of the related training for GTU professors and students and
equipping the Laboratory of Energy
Audit and Diagnosis creates a
solid foundation for GTU to implement energy audits and to prepare high
qualified professionals in future.
Energy Audit and Diagnosis laboratory officially was opened on March 15, 2011 by US Ambassador
to Georgia, John Bass, Deputy Minister of Energy Natia Mikeladze, GTU Rector Archil Phrangishvili and representatives
from USAID and NATELI.
On 11 October, 2011 an official launch of Renewable Energy Laboratory took place at Georgian Technical University. The laboratory was designed for energy and energy-related profile specialists in accordance with international standards and is equipped with modern water heating systems on solar energy, photovoltaic cells, heat pumps, small wind turbines and high efficiency heating hydraulic systems.
Renewable Energy Research Laboratory was established by joint effort of following parties: Georgian Technical University, Austrian company HERZ ARMATUREN, USAID/NATELI and Georgian International Energy Corporation. Laboratory equipment, which gives opportunity for conducting complex works, was installed by Austrian, Ukrainian and Georgian specialists.
The modern laboratory provides unique opportunity for training of students of Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD programs and professional power engineering specialists.
Renewable Energy Laboratory will promote an idea of using renewable energy resources in Georgia, boost interest toward using high efficiency household equipment, develop energy saving culture and establish clean energy technology using experience. For school age young people it is planned to organize learning classes to contribute to promotion professions of the energy sector. The research results achieved in laboratory will establish experience of reliable base for wide use of environmentally friendly and energy efficient technologies in Georgia.