1st ECA Energy Knowledge Forum

FORUM AND COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE LAUNCH

For Invited Participants Only

Spice Hotel

 

 

June 17 High-Level Knowledge Exchange Sessions
June 18  Technical Knowledge-Sharing Workshops (Parallel RE & EE Tracks)
June 19  Activity Options:
 -IRENA RE Private Sector Roundtable
 -RE Site Visit: CW Enerji Solar Factory Tour
 -EE Site Visit: Antalya Training and Research Hospital Tour

Tuesday, June 17 – High-Level Knowledge Exchange Sessions

 

 Moderator/MC: 

  • Ms. Çağla Güvelioğlu, Public Affairs/Media Consultant, World Bank 

  •  

9:00 – 9:30 

Welcome Coffee/Check-In 

9:30 – 10:15 

Opening Sessions 

Introductory Remarks 

  • Mr. Charles Cormier 

    • Regional Director of Infrastructure, ECA, World Bank

  • Mr. Zafer Demircan

    • Deputy Minister, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Türkiye 

Unveiling the ECA Energy Communities of Practice 

  • Ms. Silvia Martinez Romero 

    • Lead Energy Specialist, ECA Energy Unit, World Bank 

10:15 – 11:45 

Session 1: From Energy and Climate Targets to Action 

Introductory Keynote 

  • Mr. Erick Ruiz Araya, Deputy Director, Project Facilitation and Support Division, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)  

 Panel Moderator: 

  • Ms. Belén Gallego, CEO of ATA Insights and Energy Consultant   

 Panelists: 

  • Moldova: Ms. Carolina Novac, Secretary of State, Ministry of Energy 

  • Serbia: Ms. Maja Vukadinović, Assistant Minister for Energy Efficiency and Climate Change, Ministry of Energy and Mining  

  • Türkiye: Mr. Zafer Demircan, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources 

     

  • Ms. Laura Vecvagare, Head of Infrastructure for Middle East, Central Asia, Türkiye, International Finance Corporation (IFC)  

11:45 – 12:00 

Day 1 Speaker/Panelists Photo 

12:00 – 13:00 

Lunch 

13:00 – 14:30 

 

Session 2: Sustainable Financing Mechanisms and Market Integration of RE 

Introductory Presentation and Panel Moderator: 

  • Ms. Naida Hausmann, Lead of the Renewable Energy Task Force, Energy Community Secretariat    

 Panelists: 

  • Ms. Silvia Martinez Romero, Lead Energy Specialist, ECA Energy Unit, World Bank 

  • Ms. Olga Sclovscaia, Head of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)  

  • Türkiye: Ms. Meral Murathan, Executive Vice President TSKB (Industrial Development Bank of Türkiye)

  • Georgia: Ms. Ani Janukashvili, Deputy Director, Georgian Energy Development Fund 

  • Azerbaijan: Mr. Javid Abdullayev, Director, Azerbaijan Renewable Energy Agency (AREA)  

  • Mr. Felipe Saliba, Head of the Knowledge Management, Institutional Development, and Capacity Building Unit, International Solar Alliance  

14:30 – 15:00 

Coffee Break 

15:00 – 16:30 

 

Session 3: Scaling Up Energy Efficiency Investments in Buildings 

Introductory Presentation: 

  • Dr. Mine Isik, Energy Efficiency and Inclusive Transitions Policy Analyst, International Energy Agency   

 Panel Moderator: 

  • Ms. Çağla Güvelioğlu, Public Affairs/Media Consultant, World Bank    

 Panelists: 

  • Poland: Ms. Dorota Zawadzka-Stępniak, President, National Environmental Protection Fund (NFOŚiG) 

  • Kosovo: Ms. Anyla Beqa, Chief of Staff, Ministry of Economy

  • Mr. Aditya Alexander Lukas, Senior Energy Specialist, ECA, World Bank     

  • Ms. Marième Travaly, Manager, IFC   

  • Mr. Søren Lütken, Chair, Global ESCO Network

Group Photo 

Wednesday, June 18 – Technical Knowledge-Sharing Workshops (Full Day Options) 

 

OPTION 1: RENEWABLE ENERGY WORKSHOP - NO TRANSITION WITHOUT TRANSMISSION 

 Moderator/MC:  

  • Ms. Erica Zell, Renewable Energy Consultant, ECA Energy Unit, World Bank 

  •  

9:00 – 9:20 

Workshop Introduction 

9:20 – 12:30 

 

Case Study: Integration of Renewable Energy into Spain's Power System  

Presenter: 

  • Mr. Lukas Sigrist, Deputy Director for Economic Affairs, Instituto de Investigación Tecnológica, Universidad Pontificia Comillas 

  • Support from Mr. Pablo Rodilla, Senior Research Associate Professor, Instituto de Investigación Tecnológica, Universidad Pontificia Comillas 

12:30 – 13:30 

Lunch 

13:30 – 14:30 

 

Technical & Operational Innovations for Grids with High Levels of Renewables   

Panel Moderator: 

  • Ms. Belén Gallego, CEO of ATA Insights and Energy Consultant   

Panelists: 

  • Ms. Anna Butenko, Legal Services Deputy, ENTSO-E   

  • Mr. Aled Rowlands, Head of Engagement for Strategic Projects, National Energy System Operator (NESO UK) (virtual)   

  • Ms. Belén Segura Díaz, Manager of Energy Prospective and European Planning, Red Eléctrica (Spain) (virtual) 

14:30 – 16:45 

 

Country Representative Lightning Talks on Variable RE Integration  

Introductory Presentation: 

  • Mr. Daniel Theuer, Green Deal Expert on Sustainable Finance & Clean Energy Transition, Energy Community Secretariat  

Lightning Talks - Set 1: 

  • Türkiye: Mr. Erdem Sezer, Director of the Sectoral Research Department and Energy Sector Lead, TKYB 

  • Azerbaijan: Mr. Yusif Gayıbov, Chief of Division, International Financial Institutions, Azerenerji  

  • Uzbekistan: Mr. Eso Sadullaev, Head of Department, NEGU 

Coffee Break  

 

Lightning Talks - Set 2:  

  • Albania: Mr. Altin Uka, Director of Transmission Network Planning and Development, OST 

  • Bulgaria: Mr. Dimitar Zarchev, Director of the Central Dispatching Department, ESO EAD 

  • Ukraine: Ms. Olha Pershyna, Advisor, Ukrenergo 

  • Armenia: Mr. Tigran Pogosian, Acting Head, Investment Projects Implementation Department (HVEN) 

  • Georgia: Mr. Giorgi Amuzashvili, Director of Dispatch, Georgian State Electrosystem (GSE) 

16:45 – 17:15 

 

Utility Scale RE Community of Practice (CoP) Launch  

Session Lead:  

  • Ms. Erica Zell, Renewable Energy Consultant, ECA Energy Unit, World Bank  

Introduction, CoP Start-Up Survey, CoP Group Photo 

 

 

OPTION 2: ENERGY EFFICIENCY WORKSHOP - ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN BUILDINGS 

Moderator/MC: 

  • Ms. Marina Olshanskaya, Energy Efficiency Consultant, ECA Energy Unit, World Bank 

  •  

9:00 – 12:45 

 

Case Study: Designing A Program for Energy Efficiency in Public Sector Buildings 

Presenter:  

  • Mr. Dilip Limaye, Senior Advisor, Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy, ECA Energy Unit, World Bank 

  • Support from Henrik Rytter Jensen, Senior Energy Consultant, ECA Energy Unit, World Bank 

12:45 – 14:00 

Lunch 

14:00 – 16:50 

 

Country Representative EE Lightning Talks 

Introductory Presentation: Lessons Learned on Scaling Up EE in Buildings 

  • Ms. Sibyl Steuwer, Head of the Berlin Office, Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE)  

Lightning Talks: Energy Efficiency in the Public Sector 

    • Uzbekistan: Ms. Ozoda Juraeva, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Construction, Housing and Communal Services

    • Türkiye: Ms. Esra Tombak, Head of Department and PIU, Urbanization and Climate Change, Ministry of Environment  

    • Kosovo: Mr. Driton Hetemi, Managing Director, Kosovo Energy Efficiency Fund (KEEF)  

    • Kyrgyz Republic: Mr. Urmat Bidinov, ARIS, Community Development and Investment Agency 

    • Montenegro: Ms. Biljana Maslać, PIU Manager for the Second Montenegro Energy Efficiency Project, Ministry of Energy and Mining   

Lightning Talks: Energy Efficiency in the Residential Sector 

    • Poland: Ms. Marta Babicz, Director of Foreign Funds Departments, NFOŚiGW (National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management) 

    • Moldova: Ms. Carolina Novac, Secretary of State, Ministry of Energy 

    • Armenia: Mr. Karen Asatryan, R2E2 Fund, Director  

    • Serbia: Mr. Aleksandar Puljević, Head of the Project Implementation Unity (PIU) of the Scaling Up Residential Clean Energy Project (SURCE)  

    • Georgia: Mr. Omar Tsereteli, Deputy Head of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy Division, Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development  

16:50 – 17:30 

 

EE in Buildings Community of Practice (CoP) Launch  

Session Lead:  

  • Ms. Marina Olshanskaya, Energy Efficiency Consultant, ECA Energy Unit, World Bank  

Introduction, CoP Start-Up Survey, CoP Group Photo 

 

Thursday, June 19 – IRENA Private Sector Roundtable & Site Visit Options 

Option I: 

 

Renewable Energy Private Sector Roundtable, hosted by IRENA 

 

Renewable Energy Investment Roundtable: Hear from private sector representatives on how countries can become competitive destinations for investment in renewable energy, focused on Europe and Central Asia (ECA) countries. 

Venue: Marrakesh 2 Room 

 

Program:  

 

9:00 – 10:00 – Opening Session  

Opening Remarks and Introduction to IRENA’s Project Facilitation and Support Platforms 

  • Mr. Ahmed Badr, Director, Project Facilitation and Support, IRENA 

 

Keynote Presentation on Carbon Markets 

  • Mr. Kenjiro Suzuki, Team Lead, Constituted Bodies Support Unit Mitigation Division, UNFCCC 

 

Policy Landscape in the Region 

  • Ms. Petya Icheva, Regional Programme Officer, IRENA 

 

10:00 – 10:20 – Coffee Break 

 

10:20 – 12:30 – Moderated Roundtable 

Developing and Financing Energy Transition Projects in ECA Countries 

 

The two-fold panel discussion will be convening local and international renewable project developers, aiming to explore the opportunities and challenges associated with scaling up project development and financing to drive the energy transition in European and Central Asian countries. 

 

Participants of the Roundtable will delve into essential topics such as accessing project financing, creating supportive frameworks for energy transition investments, public-private partnerships, identifying investment needs and priorities, and exploring innovative financing instruments. Additionally, the event will highlight success stories and lessons learned from renewable energy and interconnectivity projects development and financing in the region.  

 

Moderator: 

  • Mr. Erick Ruiz Araya, Deputy Director, Project Facilitation and Support, IRENA 

 

Panelists: 

  • Mr. Ivan Stojanovski, Director of Finance, ESM (North Macedonia) 

  • Mr. Yusif Gayibov, Director of Technical Department, Azerenergy (Azerbaijan) 

  • Ms. Laura Vecvagare, Head of Infrastructure for Middle East, Central Asia, Türkiye, IFC 

  • Mr. Haliru Audu, Programme Officer, Project Financing, IRENA 

  • Ms. Ramziya Muborakshoeva, Deputy CEO, Pamir Energy Company (Tajikistan) 

 

Part 1: 

Challenges and Lessons Learned 

 

Part II: 

Success Stories and Opportunities on the Horizon 

 

12:30 – 13:30 – Closing and Lunch   

Option II: 

 

Renewable Energy Tour: Solar PV and Lithium Battery Factory 

 

  

 

RE Manufacturing Facility Visit: Presentation and Tour of Solar PV and Lithium Battery Factory, hosted by CW Enerji, including Municipality of Antalya presentation on Experience Developing a Municipal Solar PV Park 

Program: 

8:15 – Meet in the Hotel Lobby for Bus Boarding 

 

10:00 – Arrival & Introductions, CW Enerji Training Hall 

  • CW Enerji’s Growth Story 

  • Solar Development in Municipality of Antalya   

 

12:00 – Lunch (onsite) 

 

13:00 – Tour: 

  • Solar Panel Production Facility 

 

13:45 – Tour: 

  • Solar Cell Manufacturing Facility 

 

14:30 – Tour: 

  • Lithium Battery Factory & Group Photo 

 

15:30 – Depart Factory 

 

16:30 – Arrive at Hotel  

 

Option III: 

 

Energy Efficiency Tour: 

Antalya Training and Research Hospital 

 

 

Energy Efficiency in Buildings Visit: Tour of Energy Efficiency Enhancements and Rooftop Solar PV at Antalya Training and Research Hospital 

Program: 

8:15 – Meet in the Hotel Lobby for Bus Boarding 

 

9:30 – Arrival & Welcome 

  • Welcome by Hospital Management 

  • Introduction to Antalya Energy Efficiency Project 

 

10:15 – Walk-Through Visit 

  • Boiler/Chiller Room and HVAC Installations 

  • Solar Plant and Building Management System  

 

12:00 – Depart Hospital 

 

13:00 – Arrive at Hotel/Lunch 

 

Event Objectives  

🎯 Facilitate knowledge exchange on technical, policy, and financial solutions to overcome common challenges in the the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region.  

🎯 Equip ECA country policymakers with the knowledge and strategies needed to drive impactful reforms in renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE).  

🎯 Launch Communities of Practice to strengthen collaboration in the energy sector, fostering partnerships between governments, private sector, international organizations, and academia.  

Relevant Publications 

☀️ Toward a Framework for the Sustainable Heating Transition in Europe and Central Asia 

☀️ Net Zero Energy by 2060 - Charting the Path of Europe and Central Asia Toward a Secure and Sustainable Energy Future 

☀️ Scaling Up Renewables in Europe and Central Asia: Barriers and Opportunities 

☀️ Mobilizing Commercial Financing to Scale Up Energy Efficiency in the Public Sector 

Related Links

☀️ Supporting the Energy Transition Across Europe and Central Asia 

☀️ World Bank Group Launches Renewable Energy Initiative to Enhance Energy Security and Affordability in Europe and Central Asia 

☀️ World Bank Unveils Major Initiative to Scale Up Energy Efficiency in Europe and Central Asia 

Expected Participants  

The Forum will convene invited high-level decision-makers and technical experts from across the ECA energy sector. 

  • Government representatives and EE/RE fund managers from ECA countries  
  • Energy sector regulators providing independence and oversight  
  • State-owned companies involved in energy generation, transmission, and distribution, and Super ESCOs 
  • Private sector leaders from energy companies, ESCOs, project developers, and financial institutions focusing on RE and EE 
  • International development partners supporting energy transition through technical and financial assistance 
  • Academia and research institutions contributing to energy policy, innovation, and technological advancements in RE and EE

Expected Outcomes

The ECARES and E3 Energy Knowledge Networks and the related CoPs are launched to facilitate ongoing long-term knowledge exchange and capacity-building on RE and EE in the region.   

Successful projects and policy best practices are shared, accelerating the adoption of effective solutions across the region and supporting the scale-up of public and private investments in RE and EE.  

Participants gain practical insights on overcoming technical, regulatory, and financial barriers to scaling up RE and EE across the region. 

ECA Renewable Energy Scale-up (ECARES)                                                 Energy Efficiency in Europe and Central Asia (E3)