Starting February, Azerbaijani political and business decision-makers will be able to attend the "Training in Energy Efficiency" (TrEff) programme. This international programme is being offered by the Renewables Academy (RENAC), based in Germany. Running under the umbrella branding of "Energy Efficiency - made in Germany", the project is being sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) as part of its Energy Efficiency Export Initiative (www.efficiency-from-germany.info).

A first series of seminars will be held in Baku from 4 - 8 February 2013, and will be supported by the project partners, the German-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce Abroad (AHK) and the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy (ADA). It will focus on "Energy Efficiency in Industry and Commerce"; at a second seminar in June 2013, issues around "Energy efficiency in buildings" will take centre stage. In addition, in autumn 2013 an advanced series of seminars will be offered in Berlin. All TrEff seminars bring perspectives as to how the local economy can be boosted by the development of energy efficiency technologies, and likewise how the international competitiveness of local enterprises can be enhanced. In preparation for the seminars, participants will have the opportunity to participate in online training.

The potential for energy savings throughout the Azerbaijani economy are significant, lying at about 30%. This figure covers industry, the building sector and the energy industry itself, where out-of-date power generating and consuming equipment leads to unnecessarily high power losses. The benefits that an energy-efficient economy can bring have been recognized in Azerbaijan and energy efficiency legislation has already been drafted accordingly. "The aim of the seminars, within the TrEff  - programme in Azerbaijan, is to consolidate and expand the knowledge of representatives from the relevant institutions and government authorities about energy efficiency technologies, so that the existing potential for energy conservation can be realised and the desired national energy policy objectives achieved" was how Uta Zähringer, who is leading the RENAC project, explained it.

The TrEff project has developed out of the TREE project (Transfer Renewable Energy and Efficiency). TREE was launched as one of RENAC’s training programmes in 2008, and had its focus on renewable energies. To date, participants in politics and business from 51 countries have been trained worldwide. Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Ukraine have been RENAC partners since 2011.

Further Information: www.renac.de

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