Starting next week, Kazakh 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.

A first series of seminars, supported by the German-Kazakh Chamber of Commerce Abroad (AHK), will be held in Astana from 11 - 15 February 2013. It will focus on "Energy Efficiency in Industry and Commerce". At a second seminar in June 2013, supported by the Kazakh Academy for Further Education, TURAN Profi, 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. "Through the TrEff - programme we can 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 in Kazakhstan can be realised and the desired national energy policy objectives achieved." explains Prof. Manen Omarov, rector of the international academy TURAN Profi.

There is a substantial potential for energy saving in Kazakhstan. This includes the industrial and building sectors, and also the energy sector itself, where the use of old power generation and consumption equipment leads to unnecessarily high energy losses. The advantages which would accrue from an energy-efficient economy have already been recognised in Kazakhstan; this is demonstrated by the savings targets which have been set at 10% by 2015 and 25% by 2020.

The TrEff project has developed out of the TREE project (Transfer Renewable Energy&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. Kazakhstan has been a RENAC partner since 2011.

Further Information: www.renac.de