Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic – The Horizon Europe National Contact Point for Cluster 5 (Climate, Energy, and Mobility) Mr Khanchoro Murzaliev successfully hosted an Info Day on the opportunities and priorities within the European Union’s flagship research and innovation programme.

The event took place at the National Historical Museum in Bishkek and brought together representatives of the academic and research community in Kyrgyzstan. Participants included representatives from seven leading universities, among them Kyrgyz National University and Bishkek Humanitarian University.

The Info Day focused on:

• Raising awareness of Horizon Europe’s Cluster 5 themes
• Encouraging cross-border collaboration in green innovation and sustainable development
• Presenting upcoming calls for proposals and practical steps for participation.

Mr Murzaliev emphasised the strategic importance of aligning national research potential with the EU priorities, especially, in climate action and clean energy.

“This event is an important step in integrating Kyrgyz institutions into the European Research Area. We aim to build strong international partnerships and increase our participation in competitive EU funding programmes,” noted Mr Murzaliev.

The event also served as a platform for networking and matchmaking between researchers and institutions seeking to join international consortia.

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan – The European Union funded project “Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia (SECCA)” continues to provide expert support to the power sector professionals of Turkmenistan as part of technical assistance aimed at developing the regulatory framework in the field of renewable energy sources (RES).

On 15 May 2025, during the visit to Ashgabat, SECCA Key Expert Ilze Purina handed over to the Ministry of Energy of Turkmenistan the draft ‘Recommendations on ensuring guaranteed connection of renewable energy installations to state energy systems’. This document contains recommendations on the main technical requirements for RES-based power plants to be connected to the power grids of the unified energy system of the country. It also provides recommendations on technical conditions for parallel operation with existing natural gas power plants.

The document outlines the technical regulations for dispatch control of the unified national power system, as well as the technical requirements for frequency regulation of the power system, specifically concerning solar and wind power plants. These requirements are mandatory for operators responsible for the management and operation of RES-based power plants. Additionally, the document provides recommendations on the key technical procedures for taking solar and wind power plants out of service for maintenance and bringing them back into operation after repairs.

Since January 2025, SECCA experts have been actively cooperating with representatives of Turkmenistan’s energy sector to promote the sustainable use of the country’s energy resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. Earlier, the SECCA project submitted to the Ministry of Energy draft ‘Safety Recommendations for the Operation of Electricity Facilities’, which formed the basis for the ‘Safety Rules for the Operation of Electricity Facilities’ adopted by the Ministry on 2 May 2025.

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan – The Central Asia Climate Change Conference, convened in Ashgabat from 13 to 15 May 2025, brought together government officials, international partners, and academic experts under the theme: “Achieving the Global Climate Finance Goal through Regional and National Actions in Central Asia”.

The European Union funded SECCA project contributed to the conference session on renewable energy in Central Asia. Represented by Ilze Purina, Key Expert in Energy Sector Governance, SECCA emphasized the importance of small-scale renewable energy projects in advancing sustainable energy goals across the region. The session aimed to advance the development and deployment of renewable energy sources in Central Asia by fostering dialogue, sharing best practices, and promoting regional cooperation, while emphasizing the critical role of education in supporting a sustainable and inclusive energy transition.

In her presentation, Ms Purina outlined SECCA’s current activities in Central Asia, particularly in promoting small hydropower, rooftop solar installations, biomass energy, and geothermal energy in the countries of the region. She detailed how SECCA supports small-scale renewable energy adoption by working closely with national stakeholders and building technical capacity.

At the conclusion of the session, participants reached a mutual understanding on the need for coordinated regional efforts, including enhanced inter-university collaboration, supportive policy frameworks, and innovative financing models to overcome shared challenges and accelerate renewable energy deployment. SECCA reaffirmed its commitment to supporting such initiatives.

“Energiya Joly” Podcast explores the path to sustainable energy in Central Asia. It has been launched by the EU-funded SECCA Project.

In the new 9th episode, the host and the guest speaker discuss how smart meters work, how digitalisation impacts tariff policies and the energy system, the most successful cases in the European Union and Central Asia, and etc.

Host: Zhaksylyk Tokayev, Energy and Climate Expert, SECCA’s National Coordinator in Kazakhstan.

Guest: Madi Agybayev, Engineer and Technical Director at Riza Global.

Watch the full episode here (in Kazakh):

This podcast is funded by the European Union. Its content is the sole responsibility of the consortium led by Stanted and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan – The European Union (EU) funded Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia (SECCA) project provides expert support to Turkmenistan’s power sector professionals as part of technical assistance aimed at developing the regulatory framework in the field of renewable energy sources (RES).

Since January 2025, SECCA experts have been actively cooperating with representatives of Turkmenistan’s energy sector to promote the sustainable use of the country’s energy resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. In particular, SECCA experts have prepared “Safety Recommendations for the Operation of Electricity Facilities. The draft Recommendations were handed over to the Ministry of Energy of Turkmenistan during SECCA’s visit to Ashgabat between 31 March and 5 April 2025. The document provided the basis for a new regulation adopted by the Ministry of Energy on 2 May 2025 – “Safety Rules for the Operation of Electricity Facilities”.

The Rules contain important provisions on the organisation of work for the sustainable development of the power sector, including occupational health and safety requirements for the operation of renewable energy installations. Special attention is paid to the construction, operation and maintenance of solar and wind power plants. In addition, the document takes into account the international experience of leading countries in the field of sustainable energy.

According to the working plan of the SECCA project, three more regulatory documents will be prepared by the end of 2025. Among them is the draft “Technical Recommendations on Ensuring Guaranteed Connection to the State Grid of Block Plants Powered by Renewable Energy”.

These initiatives will be an important support for the specialists of the power sector of Turkmenistan in the development of RES and energy efficiency. The development and implementation of new regulations will create a solid basis for a consistent transition to sustainable energy in the country.

Kazakhstan – Over 200 representatives of government agencies, affiliate organisations and expert organisations attended the workshops on building energy labelling and cost-optimal level calculations organised in Astana, Almaty, and online. These workshops were jointly held by the Ministry of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Europea Union funded SECCA project, and the Chamber of Expert Organisations.

Kazakhstan’s building sector is the country’s largest energy consumer. Particularly in winter, high energy consumption results in increased demand on the heating and electricity systems. Data from the Committee for the Regulation of Natural Monopolies reveal that 60% of all thermal energy generated nationwide is used in buildings.

Kazakhstan has already established a legislative framework for energy efficiency labelling of buildings to drive demand for sustainable and energy-efficient buildings. However, other challenges remain, such as improving methodologies for assessing energy efficiency classes and disseminating information among market participants. It is important to adapt international experience to local conditions and raise awareness among key players in the construction sector.

Drawing on the EU experience under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, the SECCA experts shared best practices and lessons learned by the EU Member States. The participants improved their capacities and expertise in energy efficiency certification of buildings, calculation of balance of costs, assessment of economic and environmental benefits, and other.

“Energiya Joly” Podcast explores the path to sustainable energy in Central Asia. It has been launched by the EU-funded SECCA Project.

In the new 8th episode, the host and the guest speaker explore Latvia’s energy profile and experience in developing sustainable buildings — from certification and renovation to the prospects of full decarbonization.

The experts discuss how Latvia’s energy system is evolving, what new standards and technologies are used in construction, how the building certification system functions, and what insights could be valuable for Central Asian countries.

Host: Zhaksylyk Tokayev, Energy and Climate Expert, SECCA’s National Coordinator in Kazakhstan.

Guest: Agris Kamenders, Sustainable Building Certification Expert.

Watch the full episode here (in Russian):

This podcast is funded by the European Union. Its content is the sole responsibility of the consortium led by Stanted and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

Astana, Kazakhstan — The Third Project Steering Committee (PSC) meeting of the European Union (EU) funded project “Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia (SECCA)” took place in Astana.

The meeting gathered officials from the Central Asian countries, who are the PSC members designated by their respective governments, representatives of the EU Delegation to the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the project implementing consortium partners. This annual meeting serves as a platform for reviewing progress, exchanging ideas, and planning the next steps.

During the meeting, Project Team Leader Mr Paata Janelidze and Key Expert Ms Ilze Purina presented a detailed update on activities carried out from March 2024 to February 2025, highlighting key milestones and achievements and outlining activities planned for the next six months.

Participants welcomed the project’s progress. The meeting also offered an opportunity to strengthen regional dialogue and ensure the alignment of project efforts with the national energy transition priorities of the Central Asian countries.

As part of the European Union – Central Asia Sustainable Energy Days campaign, the European Union (EU) funded project “Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia (SECCA)” is announcing the regional (Central Asia) media contest “Energy transition for a better tomorrow”. Journalists are invited to submit their materials on the following topics: sustainable energy, renewables, energy efficiency, gender equality in the energy sector, STEM education for girls, green/sustainable building practice, EU–Central Asia sustainable energy cooperation, EU–Central Asia research cooperation under Horizon Europe Programme’s Cluster “Climate, Energy, and Mobility” published in print or online media or aired/broadcast on TV/radio in the period from 15 April 2024 to 14 May 2025.

The European Union (EU) is a global leader on green transition and climate action.  The EU countries are committed to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. Energy transition brings profound socio-economic and ecological effects.

In line with the EU Strategy for Central Asia and the “Team Europe” initiative on water, energy, and climate change in Central Asia, developed under the Global Gateway strategy, and by building upon the region’s potential in solar, wind and hydroelectric energy, the EU supports the five Central Asia (CA) countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan – in their energy transition efforts towards modern, safe, and sustainable energy systems, while contributing to the global fight against climate change.

The EU fosters the CA countries energy resilience through sharing its best available technologies and expertise in renewables, energy efficiency, green/sustainable building technologies, etc. The EU also acknowledges the importance of ensuring inclusive and gender-responsive energy policies and makes sure that its efforts in promoting sustainable energy address gender equality issues, foster women empowerment, reduce inequalities, promote girls’ education in STEM and their future employment in the energy sector.

The purpose of this media contest is to boost public awareness for transition to clean energy for the benefit of people and the Planet, to raise awareness on sustainable energy development, including scaling up renewables, improving energy efficiency, as well as raising awareness on the benefits of the transition into more sustainable and gender-responsive energy systems.

As a result of the media contest, 3 winners will be selected. The winners will receive cash prizes:

• The first-place winner will receive EUR 3,000
• The second-place winner will receive EUR 2,000
• The third-place winner will receive EUR 1,000.

Deadline for submission of application: 14 May 2025 (23:59 UTC+5). Late applications will not be considered.  Journalists from regional and local print and online media, TV/radio stations are welcome to apply.

The Contest Rules

To participate in the contest, the applicants should meet the following criteria:

• Be a citizen of one of the five Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, or Uzbekistan).
• Age: at least 18 years old.
• The languages of the contest materials – Russian, English, or Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Turkmen, Uzbek with the translation into Russian or English. An unofficial translation is accepted.
• An eligible entrant must be an individual. Entrants must be the authors and copyright owners of the material submitted in their name. The contest material should be an original piece of work and not a translation or adaptation of another journalist’s work.
• The materials of individual authors on the above-mentioned topics published in print or electronic media or aired/broadcast on TV/radio within the last 12 months and up to the deadline – that is during the period from 15 April 2024 to 14 May 2025, in the amount of no more than 3 materials from one applicant are accepted for participation in the contest.
• The authors of all the submitted materials shall withhold the rights to their work. By submitting their materials, authors grant the EU-funded SECCA project the right to use them for non-commercial purposes, always crediting the authors and media outlets. Any commercial use shall require the agreement of the author and media outlet.

To take part in the contest, an applicant shall fill out the application form (find below) and attach to it the contest materials (article, feature story, interview, TV/radio story/programme) with indication of hyperlinks to the materials, and in case of a print media attach a scanned PDF copy with the name of the media outlet, date, and number of the issue. The application and all attached materials shall be sent to the e-mail address:  media@secca.eu.

The Evaluation Committee will be established to evaluate the journalistic contest materials. The Evaluation Committee shall include representatives of the Cooperation and/or Political, Press and Information Sections of the EU Delegations to Central Asian countries, as well as the SECCA project management team.

The main evaluation criteria are the following:

• dedication to the contest topic(s);
• the level of research that has gone into the article;
• professional level of presenting the material, style of presentation;
• creativity and/or originality to tell the article.

The contest results shall be announced at the end of May-early June 2025 on the SECCA project website (https://secca.eu) and official social media pages of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Kazakhstan and those of the SECCA project, as well as at a session to be co-organised by SECCA as part of the Astana International Forum.

Additional Information:

The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 European countries. It is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. It acts globally to promote sustainable development of societies, environment and economies, so that everyone can benefit.

The EU-funded project “Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia (SECCA)” (from March 2022 to March 2026) aims to promote a sustainable energy mix in the Central Asia region in line with EU best practices. To fulfil its mission, SECCA strives to provide for strengthened and more inclusive policy, regulatory and institutional framework for the transition to a sustainable energy system, within a regional context, and focuses on contributing to the fulfilment of international human rights commitments in CA countries, including equal access to energy, and supporting gender inclusive policies and legislation for energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy (RE). The project activities include capacity development for EE and RE deployment, awareness raising on EE and RE, and improving investment climate for EE and RE projects.

The European Union – Central Asia Sustainable Energy Days campaign is organised yearly in the countries of Central Asia by the EU-funded project “Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia (SECCA)”. Its purpose is to enhance the awareness of national stakeholders and the public in the region of Central Asia on the significance, benefits and accessibility of sustainable energy and the interlinkage between energy and climate change. The EU-CA Sustainable Energy Days campaign represents a global edition of EU Sustainable Energy Week, the largest annual event dedicated to renewables and efficient energy use in Europe, initiated in 2007 by the European Commission.

Tashkent, Uzbekistan – A presidential decree has been adopted outlining measures to enhance public administration in the field of energy efficiency, develop the market for energy service companies (ESCO), advance energy auditing, as well as expand “green” financial instruments as part of the “Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy” in Uzbekistan.

In accordance with this decree, the National Energy Efficiency Agency will be established under the Cabinet of Ministers. One of its core mandates will be to implement a unified state policy on energy efficiency, and develop and regulate incentive and enforcement measures in this area.

Starting from 1 July 2025, the Government will provide subsidies covering:

• 20% of the cost of conducting energy audits of residential buildings
• 20% of the cost of solar panels and solar collectors
• 40% of the cost of heat pumps (with the total subsidy amount not exceeding 50 times the base calculation value).

By 1 September 2025, a Digital Energy Efficiency Platform will be launched, providing a unified register of energy auditors, consultants, managers, and ESCOs, as well as manufacturers of solar panels, solar collectors, heat pumps, and other green technologies.

By 1 October 2025, green energy efficiency standards will be introduced for both domestic producers and importers.

Beginning 1 January 2025, no less than 5% of expenditures of budgetary organisations and 15% of off-budget funds will be allocated to improving energy efficiency.

In addition, an off-budget Fund for the Promotion and Support of Energy Efficiency will be established. The Government plans to allocate equivalent of over 7 million euro in 2025 and over 14 million euro annualy in 2026 and 2027, depending on public needs. Furthermore, it aims to attract an additional €185 million in concessional loans through commercial banks.

The EU-funded SECCA project has been supporting national partners in Uzbekistan in exploring the potential of ESCOs in the country and sharing the experiences and lessons learned from EU Member States. In June 2024, the project organised a technical workshop and a roundtable in Tashkent and is currently developing three draft bylaws on ESCOs.