A working meeting on the topic "Implementation of energy efficiency measures in Smolyan Municipality for environmental preservation and climate change adaptation. The Norwegian experience." was held in Smolyan Municipality

The working meeting took place on October 17 as part of the activities of project No. BGENERGY-2.001-0034 "Rehabilitation and Modernization of the External Artificial Lighting System in the city of Smolyan."

The meeting was opened by Engineer Mariana Tsekova, the project manager, who welcomed the participants and briefly introduced the project and the program.

The event was attended by the contractors responsible for the modernization of the external artificial lighting system - "UNION FILKAB-ENGINEERING" Ltd., the construction supervision by "Supervision Engineering" Ltd., and the author's supervision by "Deribeev" Ltd., represented by the main designer, Engineer Atanas Pikov.

Mr. Stoyan Kovachev, the representative of "UNION FILKAB-ENGINEERING" Ltd., and the project manager on their behalf, presented the implementation of activities related to the modernization of street lighting in the city, including:

• Replacement of existing light fixtures with modern LED lights, with a total of 3044 installed lighting fixtures on streets with light classes M6, C4, P4-P6.
• Implementation of a system for control and energy monitoring of street lighting, with the delivery of 115 control panels for street lighting, a monitoring and control kit, and a computer communication system, measuring energy consumption and monitoring various parameters of the electrical network for consumption, observation, and control.

During his presentation, Mr. Kovachev visually demonstrated the difference before and after the replacement of the lighting fixtures, energy savings, and described the project's implementation as an excellent example of collaboration between the contractor and the municipality.

Representatives of the Norwegian project partner, the energy company Nordplan, participated in the meeting via an online connection. Mr. Raul Rune Ingebrigtsen and Mr. Johan Hustadnes presented their company and their experience in the fields of energy, the environment, and sustainability. They provided specific examples of using modern technologies in street lighting projects and energy monitoring.

On the Bulgarian side, the meeting was attended by municipal experts involved in activities shaping the municipality's policies related to energy efficiency, environmental protection, and climate change adaptation, the project management team in Smolyan Municipality, as well as the Regional Information Center team and representatives of the Regional Administration - Smolyan and the Electricity Distribution South.

In the second part of the meeting, current and upcoming activities and projects in the field of energy efficiency were discussed. The conditions for the second stage of the procedure for replacing heating appliances in households under the "Environment 2021-2027" program, the support procedure for energy from renewable sources for households, and the second stage of the procedure for energy refurbishment of residential building stock under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, as well as other projects that Smolyan Municipality is implementing and preparing, were presented.

The meeting was beneficial for all participants, facilitating the exchange of experiences and best practices, as well as improving and coordinating joint efforts to increase energy efficiency and address climate change.

The project is implemented under the "Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, Energy Security" program, funded by the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area 2014-2021, with the Program Operator being the Ministry of Energy, within the procedure for the selection of project proposals "Rehabilitation and Modernization of Municipal Infrastructure – Exterior Lighting Systems in Municipalities."