The European Commission has awarded a contract to a multi-national consortium to assist a program of renewable energy policy and small hydro rehabilitation in Russia.
The executive branch agency of the European Union awarded the 1.957 million euro (US$2.672 million) contract to ICF Consulting Ltd. of the United Kingdom, COWI A/S of Denmark, and Institute of Global Problems of Energy Efficiency and Ecology of Russia. The consultant consortium was among six bidders competing for the work. (HNN 3/2/07)
Working under the European Union-Russia Energy Dialogue, the program intends to improve investment opportunities in Russia’s energy sector and to promote energy efficient and environmentally friendly technologies. The program has a budget of 2 million euros (US$2.7 million) under the EU’s Technical Assistance to the Commonwealth of Independent States (TACIS) program.
The consultant group is to help the Russian government develop a policy for the use of renewable energy sources at Russia’s federal level and in selected pilot regions. Scheduled to begin in September, the consultants are to spend 24 months helping develop targets and an action plan for the generation of electricity from renewable sources. Issues include pricing, grid access, and administration.
