ManagEnergy Workshop: The Covenant of Mayors and SEAP Development
The Role of Municipalities in Implementing and Financing Sustainable Energy Policy

The workshop focused on energy planning and utilising ESCOs and Structural and Cohesion Funds for energy efficiency projects in the municipal building sector. It also provided an insight into the National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) and its implications. It included expert presentations and good practice examples, as well as interactive discussion sessions between the participants and speakers.

The workshop sought to build the capacity of the participants in the following areas:

• Energy planning (including the preparation of Covenant of Mayors SEAPs) and raising awareness of the benefits of sustainable energy planning;
• Providing guidance concerning the National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) and its implications;
• Provision of guidance and training on utilising Structural & Cohesion Funds and other financing schemes for energy efficiency projects.

The key target group(s) were:

• Energy experts from Covenant of Mayors (CoM) signatory cities / municipalities;
• Energy experts from cities / municipalities that are potential CoM members, and non-signatory cities / municipalities.

Participants left the workshop with:

• Increased awareness and more information on the Covenant of Mayors (CoM) initiative
• Increased knowledge and awareness of the benefits of sustainable energy planning
• Increased understanding of possible financing schemes for energy actions
• Increased knowledge of good practice examples from within and outside Lithuania
• Increased knowledge and understanding of the objectives, strategies and targets of the National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP).

Presentations and photographs from the workshop are available on the event website, as follows:

• Workshop programme in English (PDF)
• Workshop Overview (PDF, in English) - Seán J. Burke, EU ManagEnergy Initiative
• About the ManagEnergy Initiative (PDF, in English) - Seán J. Burke, EU ManagEnergy Initiative
• Presentation of the “Covenant of Mayors” initiative: principal objectives, implementation modalities, financial support & the Covenant of Mayors Initiative (PDF, in English) - Pedro Ballesteros, European Commission (DG ENER) & Seán J. Burke, EU ManagEnergy Initiative
• Experience of Riga city municipality in implementing “Covenant of Mayors” commitments (SEAP development & financing) & advice for Lithuanian Municipalities (PDF, in English) - Inete Ielite, Member of the Management Board of Riga Energy Agency
• Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP) Development - Resources and Tools to help you: Lithuanian Experience and Possibilities in the Implementation of “Covenant of Mayors” commitments (PDF, in Lithuanian) - Dr. Feliksas Zinevičius, Director of Kaunas Regional Energy Agency (KREA)
• EU and National Requirements and Support for the Renewable Energy Sector and the Role of Municipalities in Implementing Renewable Energy Measures (PDF, in Lithuanian) - Egidijus Purlys, Deputy Head of Division for Renewable Energy Sources, Ministry of Energy
• Preparation of Renewable Energy Action Plan. How to start? (PDF, in Lithuanian) - Martynas Nagevičius Director of Environment and Energy Division, “COWI Lietuva”
• Financing Possibilities in Implementing Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Measures. Good Practices in Utilising Structural Funds for Energy Efficiency Savings - Example from Lithuania - Arvydas Dragunas, Director, Lithuanian Environmental Investment Fund
• Financing Possibilities in Implementing Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Measures – Selected Experience and Good Practice from other EU Member States (PDF, in English) - Seán J. Burke, EU ManagEnergy Initiative