Astana, Kazakhstan – SECCA project experts continue their work on developing a new systemic approach to improving energy efficiency in the public sector of Kazakhstan.

As part of this work, SECCA experts, together with specialists from the Ministry of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Institute for the Development of Electric Power and Energy Efficiency, carried out on-site energy audits at two secondary public schools in Astana – School No. 20 and School No. 29.

This activity is being implemented within the framework of a proposed new 10-step approach aimed at more effective use of data from the State Energy Register and at conducting in-depth analysis of public sector facilities prioritised in terms of energy efficiency improvement.

At the first stage, a methodology for prioritising public institutions included in the State Energy Register was developed and piloted. This methodology enables the step-by-step selection of facilities for further detailed monitoring and on-site energy audits.

At the second stage, following a preliminary analysis of all available data for the selected schools and the preparation of baseline analytical materials, on-site energy audits were conducted. These audits focused on collecting additional data, taking measurements, and visually assessing the condition of buildings and engineering systems. Based on the audit results, the necessary calculations will be carried out for each school, and draft energy audit reports will be prepared.

Looking ahead, the project proposes establishing a sustainable and scalable mechanism for the systematic selection, data analysis, and implementation of energy audits for public sector facilities with the highest potential for energy efficiency improvements.

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan – Zhaksylyk Tokayev, energy and climate expert, and SECCA project’s National Coordinator in Kazakhstan, took part in a podcast episode hosted by Nurzat Abdyrasulova, President of UNISON Group. The podcast is dedicated to energy efficiency (EE) and sustainable energy development.

The discussion focused on Kazakhstan’s experience in developing its energy sector and advancing energy transition. The host and the guest discussed key trends in Kazakhstan’s sustainable energy sector, including the development of renewable energy (RE) , deployment of small-scale RE projects, improvement of EE in buildings, tariff policy, and so on. Special attention was given to policy instruments, regulatory frameworks, and practical tools such as energy audits and building energy performance certification. The exchange also highlighted differences and similarities between the approaches used in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

This podcast episode serves as a valuable example of regional knowledge exchange and dialogue between experts from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

Watch the full episode here (in Russian):

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan – The Ministry of Energy of Turkmenistan has approved the “Recommendations on the Calculation and Analysis of Technological Consumption of Electricity for Transmission through the Electric Networks of the Power System of Turkmenistan”. The document was developed in accordance with the Law of Turkmenistan “On Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency” with the support of the European Union-funded SECCA project.

The Recommendations establish a unified approach to determining, calculating, and analysing technological losses of electrical energy during its transmission. The document provides a detailed description of key concepts, the structure of losses, as well as methods for their calculation for electric networks of various voltage classes.

The calculation results obtained under these Recommendations will be used to prepare reporting data on technological electricity losses, applied in loss planning, identifying network elements with increased losses, and developing measures to reduce them.

The implementation of these Recommendations contributes to greater transparency in electricity metering, reduced inefficient expenditures, and enhanced reliability of the operation of Turkmenistan’s power system.

Overall, within the framework of the SECCA project work in Turkmenistan, five regulatory documents have been developed. All of them have been approved by the Ministry of Energy and put into effect. Currently, in close cooperation with national experts, work is underway on the preparation of two additional documents aimed at further strengthening the regulatory framework for the sustainable development of the country’s energy sector.

Astana, Kazakhstan – At the request of the Ministry of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Institute for the Development of Electric Power and Energy Saving, the European Union-funded SECCA project conducted a four-day practical training on energy audits of public buildings.

Held on 8-11 December 2025, the training built on SECCA’s earlier support to the national partners in developing a new business process aimed at more in-depth analysis and monitoring of energy consumption in public sector buildings, ensuring the sustainability of the newly introduced approach.

Participants received an introduction to energy audits, along with detailed explanations and practical examples of building energy efficiency assessment methods. SECCA experts guided the participants through key technical topics, including the specifics of auditing schools, hospitals, kindergartens and administrative buildings, as well as data collection, analysis, and reporting.

The event programme also covered energy efficiency indicators, the fundamentals of thermal engineering calculations and methods for assessing the environmental effects of energy efficiency measures. By the end of the training, participants had strengthened their practical skills in conducting energy audits, interpreting audit results and preparing professional reports for more effective energy management and improved energy efficiency in Kazakhstan’s public building stock.

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan – On 5 December 2025, SECCA project experts held a series of technical meetings with representatives of relevant organisations in the Kyrgyz Republic on the topic: “Improving the Energy Efficiency of Public Buildings: Approaches and Recommendations. Implementation of ISO 50001 at the National Level in Kazakhstan”.

During the meetings, SECCA national coordinator in Kazakhstan Zhaxylyk Tokayev presented a new approach being developed within the project for working with data on public buildings. The core idea of this approach is the following: the SECCA project, together with the Electric Power and Energy Saving Development Institute of Kazakhstan, conducted an analysis of the current state of data management in the public building sector and proposed a comprehensive 10-step methodology aimed at more effective use of the State Energy Register and the subsequent in-depth analysis of priority facilities from an energy-efficiency standpoint.

One of the key components of this methodology is a system for prioritiыing entities listed in the State Energy Register that are public institutions, enabling their phased selection for in-depth monitoring and on-site energy audits.

The proposal essentially establishes a systematic selection mechanism that takes into account both the large volume of data and the high number of facilities. At present, more than 24,000 public and quasi-public sector entities are registered in Kazakhstan, making it practically impossible to conduct energy audits for all facilities at once. In this context, the developed methodology uses a set of seven indicators that can be digitised and used to rank facilities by priority. In addition, a verification questionnaire has been created to minimise risks associated with human error during data entry and to ensure a more complete and accurate picture of each facility.

The purpose of presenting this approach was to share experience, demonstrate SECCA’s practical work, and help promote a more structured and systematic way of working with the public sector.

It is important to note that in all five beneficiary countries of the project, social and public buildings are fully funded by the state budget, making energy efficiency measures in this sector strategically important.

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan – On 3 December 2025, the Ministry of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic hosted the Third Meeting of the Inter-Institutional Working Group (IIWG) on ESCO and EPC quality assurance. The IIWG was established by the Ministry of Energy to strengthen energy efficiency (EE) services market and building energy performance certification standards. The event brought together members of the IIWG and the SECCA project experts.

The meeting opened with welcoming remarks from Talgat Asan uulu, Head of the Renewable Energy Development Department of the Ministry of Energy, and Paata Janelidze, SECCA Team Leader.

The first technical presentation delivered by SECCA experts Nicolae Zaharia and Maratbek Cholponkulov offered a legal overview of the current regulatory framework and highlighted the potential for implementing ESCO mechanisms in Kyrgyzstan. This analysis outlined existing regulatory gaps and provided recommendations to support the emergence of an ESCO market, as one of the key tools to achieve sustainable energy-saving in Kyrgyzstan.

Then, SECCA experts Gulsara Kasymova and Mirgul Aidarova detailed the draft Regulation on monitoring and quality control of completed work on energy certification of buildings. This draft Regulation has been developed in accordance with the national Laws “On Energy Saving” and “On Energy Efficiency of Buildings”, and defines conditions and procedure for conducting quality control of building energy performance certificates in Kyrgyzstan. The presentation underscored the importance of robust quality assurance mechanisms to ensure transparency, trust, and standardisation in the country’s EE sector.

The meeting concluded with an open discussion, during which participants exchanged views on the next steps required to support development and operation of ESCOs and enhance energy certification practices in Kyrgyzstan.

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan – On 2 December 2025, the Ministry of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic hosted a Technical Meeting on the development of rooftop solar (RTS) in the country, bringing together members of the Inter-Institutional Working Group on the renewable energy strategy development, representatives of the governmental energy agencies, international projects, private energy companies, etc.

The SECCA Team Leader Paata Janelidze opened the discussion with a presentation on the promotion of RTS in the European Union and provided an overview of the project’s technical assistance in advancing RTS across Central Asia – specifically in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan – highlighting the ongoing analytical work that aims to strengthen national policy planning.

The meeting continued with an analysis of the results of the modelling of the cost-effective deployment of RTS in Kyrgyzstan, carried out using the Homer Pro software. SECCA Senior Expert Mansurdzhon Kudusov presented simulation results on six different building types in Bishkek: an apartment building, a school, a medical institution, a shopping centre, a restaurant, and a commercial-use building. Using input data, such as solar resource, tariffs, equipment capital and operational expenditures, service life and discount rate, the optimal PV capacities, configuration options, and sensitivity to CAPEX and tariffs were determined.

SECCA Senior Expert, RTS Workstream Lead, Darius Krauciunas then presented the results of the economic analysis for three payment schemes for grid-connected RTS systems: without net metering, with net metering, and with a feed-in tariff. This assessment determined the marginal CAPEX that could make the financing of a RTS project economically viable. The analysis revealed that investments can be feasible for some types of buildings in Kyrgyzstan, particularly in the commercial and public sectors, even with the current electricity tariffs, provided that CAPEX remain in the range of 400-420 USD/kW installed.

Each presentation was followed by an open and productive discussion. The insights generated during the meeting will support the Ministry of Energy in its next steps toward renewable energy deployment.

Tashkent, Uzbekistan – The European Union-funded SECCA project participated in the Women Scientists Forum “SheScience 2025” held on 27 November 2025. This event, hosted by the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan with support from international partners, brought together women scientists, policymakers, donors, and research leaders from Central Asia to strengthen regional cooperation and integration in science, research, and innovation.

The forum served as a platform for dialogue on shared challenges and future-oriented solutions. It focused on critical topics such as elevating women’s leadership in science, overcoming barriers to regional scientific collaboration, promoting the role of green technologies and artificial intelligence for achieving sustainable development, and mapping out financial tools to support regional endeavours.

Panel discussions and interactive working sessions enabled participants to exchange experiences, identify common priorities, and develop practical proposals for strengthening cross-border collaboration.

SECCA’s participation supported the forum’s focus on international research cooperation. SECCA Key Expert Ilze Purina presented on the project’s work in enhancing participation of Central Asian research institutions and universities in the EU’s Horizon Europe programme and highlighted the opportunities offered by the programme. This input complemented the forum’s emphasis on expanding financing tools and strengthening regional and global scientific partnerships.

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan – A training workshop titled “Development of Renewable Energy Sources in Turkmenistan: Features of Integrating Solar and Wind Power Plants into Electric Power System” was held on 19–20 November 2025. The event was organised by the European Union-funded SECCA project with the support of the Ministry of Energy of Turkmenistan.

Strategic documents adopted in recent years by the Government of Turkmenistan emphasise the need to develop the energy sector in line with the principles of sustainable development. This implies the use of the country’s vast potential in the field of solar and wind energy. The Law on Renewable Energy Sources, adopted in 2021 and amended in November 2023, is aimed at expanding the use of renewable energy, strengthening energy security, developing a competitive energy system, and ensuring environmental protection.

SECCA experts presented information on the project’s current activities in Turkmenistan, including efforts to strengthen the country’s participation in the EU’s Horizon Europe programme. A key part of the programme consisted of thematic sessions devoted to global trends in renewable energy development and the experience of EU and Central Asian countries in integrating renewables into electric power systems.

On the first day, participants reviewed Kazakhstan’s model for renewable energy development, including state policy and regulation, tariff setting, main challenges, and scenarios. On the second day, mechanisms to support investors, the development of small-scale renewable energy projects, financial support for projects, and innovative models such as hybrid power plants, the use of renewables and energy storage systems, and hydrogen production were discussed.

The seminar was attended by specialists from the Ministry of Energy, representatives of “Turkmenenergo”, the Scientific and Production Center “Renewable Energy Sources” of the State Energy Institute of Turkmenistan, and the Ashgabat Secondary Vocational School of Energy under the Ministry of Energy.

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan – On 18 November 2025, a roundtable titled “Opportunities for Strengthening Turkmenistan’s Participation in Horizon Europe” was held at the International University of Humanities and Development. The event was organised by the European Union-funded SECCA project with the support of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan. The event brought together representatives of the Ministry of Education, national contact points (NCPs) for the programme, international experts of the SECCA project, and leading universities of the country.

Since May 2024, SECCA has been actively supporting Central Asian countries in strengthening their participation in the EU’s Horizon Europe programme, including the development of NCP networks, the creation of a “Cooperation Profile” to facilitate the search for partners in the EU, and the organisation of information events dedicated to the programme’s Cluster 5 on climate, energy, and mobility.

In Turkmenistan, in particular, the project organised two international conferences on opportunities for the country’s participation in the programme. As a result of the second conference, held in May 2025, a database of Central Asian research institutes with the potential to participate in Cluster 5 calls was created. This database was transferred to GREENET, the international network of NCPs for Cluster 5, and disseminated among its members. Given that the new Cluster 5 Work Programme, published in September 2025, explicitly encourages cooperation with Central Asian countries, this resource will contribute to a more effective search for partners and the development of new partnerships.

Thus, at the roundtable, participants discussed the results achieved and further actions to ensure the sustainability of these results and to expand Turkmenistan’s participation in Horizon Europe. The event became an important step toward strengthening international scientific cooperation and increasing Turkmenistan’s engagement in international research initiatives.