The final conference of the international project "New Energy Solutions in Carpathian Area” has taken place at UzhNU
![The final conference of the international project "New Energy Solutions in Carpathian Area” has taken place at UzhNU](/uploads/news/20230414_1283_IMG_1087.jpg "The final conference of the international project "New Energy Solutions in Carpathian Area” has taken place at UzhNU")
On April 13-14, 2023, the final meeting within the framework of the international project New Energy Solutions in Carpathian Area (NESICA HUSKROUA/1702/6.1/0014) was held at UzhNU. The project is implemented within the framework of the Joint Operational Program Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine 2014-2020, financed by the EU. The meeting was attended by the partners of the project, the main beneficiary: Uzhhorod National University, Self-Government of Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County (Hungary), Stefan sel Mare University of Suceva (Romania), NGO "Center of European Initiatives" (Uzhhorod , Ukraine), Košice Technical University (Slovakia), and Nyiregyhaza University (Hungary).
The goal of the NESICA project is to increase energy efficiency and renewable energy sources through education and practical activities in communities to support the sustainable use of natural resources in the border regions of Ukraine, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia.
At the beginning of the meeting, Vice-Rector for Academic Policy and Research Myroslava Lendel noted: "NESICA became one of the best projects for Uzhhorod National University, which helped us to improve our energy infrastructure. We are really satisfied with the results, it became one of the key projects that were implemented at UzhNU during the previous programme period. Today we have the opportunity to discuss the results achieved by our university, territorial communities and the results in the countries participating in the project. I hope that our partnership will become a basis for future joint actions."
Oleksandr Rogach, Vice-Rector for Academic Policy and Research, the manager of the project, noted: "What concerns the Ukrainian beneficiaries, I would divide this project into 2 stages - the first one before February 24, 2022, and the second one – after this date. These events actually affected the implementation of the project, and to tell the truth, Ukrainians did not believe until the very last moment that our so-called "neighbor" would launch a full-scale invasion, start bombing Ukrainian cities, schools, and universities. More than 2 thousand buildings of universities and schools were damaged in our country, about 400 of them were completely destroyed. The war changed our vision of the basic programme document, the Joint Concept that was developed by our experts before the large-scale invasion. The constant bombing of Ukraine's energy system forced us to change our understanding of the main goal of project. We understood that the development of new solutions was not only sustainability, environmental support, but also a matter of national security and people's lives. That is why our concept was supplemented with a new section. We believe that we have fulfilled the main tasks, I want to thank our international partners, experts and all the specialists involved in the implementation of this project. We also want to emphasize that Uzhhorod National University is always ready to cooperate with you."
Oleh Luksha, an expert, associate professor of UzhNU, executive director of the Transcarpathian regional department of Association of Ukrainian Cities, told more about the Joint Smart Energy Concept in the Carpathian region "Eco Smart Energy Carpathia". In particular, he dwelt upon the stages of implementation of the Joint Concept. "As part of stage 1, a responsible attitude to the new paradigm of global (local, regional) energy is formed - through regulatory and legal acts at various levels, education, diffusion of innovations, agreed adoption of strategies and programmes, etc. The next stage 2 envisages steady and permanent increase of specific actions and projects for the practical implementation of the Green Energy Transition both in the urbanized territories of cities, towns and villages, as well as in industrial enterprises, in institutions and enterprises of non-production sphere, in transport, in the energy industry itself," noted Oleh Luksha.
The head of the board of the NGO "Center of European Initiatives" Natalia Nosa noted: "I believe that we worked together on the implementation of a wonderful project, it was useful for all of us, as it is an exceptional tool for making good cooperation between universities, civil society organizations and communities. We are happy to have achieved good results within the project in Ukraine, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia."
The NESICA project included an infrastructure component, cooperation between territorial communities, energy audit of buildings in territorial communities and UzhNU, creation of energy laboratories and an energy center, the creation of "Eco Smart Energy Carpathia" Concept, and the identification of the best solutions in the energy sector. Increasing the potential of universities based on the developed energy efficiency of university buildings and campuses is one of the project objectives. According to the results of the trainings, 12 feasibility studies have been provided for 3 communities and 2 buildings of UzhNU. A number of new solutions have been proposed for pilot communities and 2 buildings of UzhNU within the framework of the CBC Energy Concept. A system of solar panels and heat pumps was also installed for heating the premises and water in the pool of Burevisnyk sports complex of UzhNU.
