To exchange experiences, transfer knowledge and lessons learned in the field of district heating systems and the use of renewable energy sources as support of district heating systems, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has organized the study visit for seven Bosnia and Herzegovina representatives to Italy.

The study visit was organized within the project “Improving Air Quality in Bosnia and Herzegovina through Promotion of Renewable Energy Sources and Improvements in District Heating” that is financed by the Italian Ministry for Environment, Land and Sea Protection (IMELS) and implemented by the UNDP.

Meetings with the representatives of the IMELS, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Institute for renewable energy (EURAC Research) at NOI Techpark in Bolzano, and district heating company Alperia in Bolzano were organized in the period from January 6 till 10, 2019.  The participants had an opportunity to learn about successful functioning and management of district heating systems, usage of renewable energy sources and their use in the development plans.

“The project is part of the IMELS’s cooperation initiatives in the Balkans area aimed at the prevention and research of solutions against pollution in South East and Southern Europe. The IMELS will continue to contribute to exchange of experience and best Italian practices on mitigating air pollution through promotion and utilization of renewable energy sources and improvements in district heating systems. We were glad that we were able to host our partners from Bosnia and Herzegovina.“, said Paolo Angelini, Head of Delegation to the Alpine Convention and Coordinator for bilateral cooperation in the Carpathian and Balkan region at the IMELS.

„The visit to NOI Techpark and Apleria district heating company in Bolzano was also very useful. We have received a lot of answers, which can help us in making our decisions to motivate users to connect to the district heating system. Also, it was interesting to see the combination of heat sources that make the entire system of district heating safer and more sustainable.“, said Zijada Krvavac, Assistant Minister at Ministry of Spatial Planning, Construction and Environmental Protection of Canton Sarajevo.

During the study visit bh. representatives have learned more about the Italian experience in achieving goals related to the Energy Community Treaty, fulfilling goals defined in the energy efficiency and renewable energyaction plans, as well as hearing experiences and lessons learned that are applicable in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Admir Dzubur Director of Toplane Sarajevo said „The visit was very important, we had an opportunity to learn about activities related to the improvement of energy efficiency as well as to get acquainted with the activities carried at the research centers in Rome and Bolzano. I was especially impressed by the organization and the number of centers at the ENEA and the EURAC, where I saw a lot of young people involved in research and developmental projects, as well as working in the experimentation and optimisation of solar energy capture technologies in outdoor laboratories. The visit to the Ministry has completed the impressions and showed that the incentives should come from the higher level, in order to support activities and inflow of new ideas. “

The overall Project goal is to improve the air quality through promotion and utilization of renewable energy sources and improvements in access to district heating.  A major cause of poor air quality in urban areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina is home heating, which can be eliminated with usage of renewable energy sources in district heating systems.

“Overall, the Project is extremely well-designed, innovative, and of significant benefit for us in the Canton responsible for making strategic decisions in the field of air protection and development of heating systems for facilities that cause pollution especially during the winter period”, said Krvavac. She also added that she is thankful to Paolo Angelini from the Italian Ministry for Environment, Land, and Sea Protection, who seeks to find new ways of cooperation and to support our efforts in improving the quality of air in Sarajevo, and in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Elvis Hadzikadic, UNDP Project Manager, states that the “Study on renewable energy sources with a focus on biomass, geothermal energy, and solar energy in Bosnia and Herzegovina” and “Improvement and extension of the district heating system for Sarajevo Canton” are in the finalization stage. We believe that the experiences and lessons learned from the study visit, as well as the analysis and results obtained through the studies, will be guidelines for different levels government in their next steps to improve the legal and regulatory framework, define financial measures and institutional framework for the implementation of renewable energy sources, and energy efficiency measures to decarbonize the heating sector and improve air quality.”

During the study visit, the representatives of the IMELS, the Italian national agency for new technologies, energy and sustainable economic development (ENEA), as well as the Institute for renewable energy (EURAC Research) expressed their readiness for possible future cooperation on new projects, as well as the possible realization of pilot projects in the field of using renewable energy sources and modelling, in accordance with the needs and interests of partners from Bosnia and Herzegovina.