EU4Energy: What is it and how does it work in Armenia?

What is EU4Energy?

The EU4Energy Initiative covers all support that the European Union is offering in the energy field to the six countries of the Eastern Partnership – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine.

How does the Initiative work?

The EU is financing energy projects and programmes that help to improve energy efficiency and the use of renewables, reform energy markets, as well as improve energy infrastructure and connectivity between countries.

An interactive map of all EU-funded projects in Armenia, including in the energy sector, provides an overview of the current status of programming in the country.

How do citizens benefit?

There are a number of positive, practical results for Armenia. Twenty-five towns across the country are part of the EU-supported Covenant of Mayors East covering over 57% of the population. The EU is assisting them in achieving the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 and adopting a joint approach to tackling mitigation and adaptation to climate change.

Under the BioRuralHeating project, six local communities were equipped with heating equipment using sustainable biomass to heat kindergartens, schools and greenhouses. Additionally, thanks to an EU project supporting Armenia’s switch to green energy, solar panels were installed in 29 spots around Shirak province.

And the project “Arevadzor” helped build a new solar power plant in Gladzor, Vayots Dzor province, with some 4,000 solar panels, capable of providing enough energy to meet the needs of 500 households.

How does Armenia benefit?

The EU4Energy Programme aims to improve the quality of energy data and statistics, shape regional policy-making discussions, strengthen legislative and regulatory frameworks and improve access to information in the Eastern partner countries. As one of the implementing partners of the programme, the Energy Charter Secretariat has worked in a number of areas and has identified gaps in legislation on energy performance in buildings, provided proposals for nearly zero-energy buildings (NZEB), and drafted guidelines on implementing minimum energy efficiency requirements for buildings.

What opportunities are there?

Programmes such as the Covenant of Mayors East, and the Covenant of Mayors – Demonstration Projects offer opportunities for communities to ensure more reliable energy supply, as well as reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

Additionally, you can check out EU4Business portal to see what opportunities exist to make a business energy efficient and eco-friendly.

Moreover, if you are interested in cutting-edge research and innovation, you can see the opportunities offered under the Horizon 2020 programme.

There are also EU-supported programmes that provide funding for businesses and individuals according to specific eligibility criteria and conditions. You can refer to web site of the European Union Delegation to Armenia or you can subscribe to the news alerts of the EU4Energy and receive updates of any opportunities.