Kosovo’s high dependence on fossil fuel-based electricity and inefficient energy consumption patterns create significant environmental, financial, and institutional challenges. Public and residential buildings remain a major source of energy waste, largely due to poor thermal insulation, outdated infrastructure, limited awareness, and slow implementation of energy efficiency measures.
Kosovo does not know about savings, it also spends electricity without control
The production of electricity using fossil fuels and its uncontrolled expenditure, which are consequently destroying the atmosphere and the ozone layer, constitute a global concern, which has alarmed many experts in this field and many countries around the world. the world. Seeing these problems, various experts have examined the possibilities to reduce the use of fossil fuel resources by putting into operation other methods of energy production through renewable sources and thus raising the energy performance in buildings. Buildings are considered to be the biggest polluters according to many reports that have been issued from EU countries and beyond, emphasizing the release of a large amount of carbon dioxide, with a participation of about 40%. However, in Kosovo, awareness of the importance of efficient measures and energy production through renewable sources still remains low. According to the Kosovo Action Plan for Energy Efficiency, most houses or residential buildings do not have thermal insulation or any other efficient measures. In order to increase the performance of buildings, public institutions in Kosovo have begun to undertake some efficient measures, such as replacing doors and windows, insulating the building and installing central heating.
The plan for 9% efficiency is far from being achieved
In 2005, Kosovo adopted an energy document entitled "Kosovo's Energy Strategy (2005-2015)", which mainly focused on energy production through fossil fuel sources, leaving aside renewable energy sources. This strategy was revised in 2009 with the "Energy Strategy of the Republic of Kosovo 2009-2018". Although in 2018 EU countries focused on clean alternative sources, Kosovo as one of the strategic objectives within this Strategy continued to have the use of burning fossil resources, namely lignite. The 2009-2018 strategy highlights the importance of harmonizing local legislation with EU directives, norms and standards. The compatibility of local legislation with EU legislation is an obligation for Kosovo arising from the Stabilization and Association Agreement. As Kosovo intends to integrate into the European Union, the 2009-2018 strategy requires the implementation of the 20-20-20 objectives of the EU energy plan for all Contracting Parties of the Energy Community, of which Kosovo is a member. , it is required that by 2020: reduce the emission of gases that create the greenhouse effect by 20%; to increase 20% of the participation of renewable resources in energy consumption; and improving energy efficiency by 20%.
This means that Kosovo must implement all EU directives and regulations that regulate the field of energy and environmental protection. However, the implementation of EU measures and standards in Kosovo will be very challenging, especially since the building of energy capacities continues to rely on fossil fuel sources, referred to the "Energy Strategy of the Republic of Kosovo 2017-2026".
As for policy planning, Kosovo has drawn up the Kosovo Action Plan for Energy Efficiency (2010-2018). This plan has approved indicative targets of 9% for Kosovo, which must be achieved by the end of 2018, which aims to make the final use of energy as economical and efficient as possible, by setting incentive targets and creating the appropriate legal framework. institutional and financial to remove the barriers that prevent the efficient use of energy, said by the Action Plan of Kosovo for Energy Efficiency (2010-2018).
Lack of competences and lack of funds, the main challenges
The former head of the Kosovo Agency for Energy Efficiency, Bedri Dragusha, shows that the challenges faced by Kosovo's institutions in achieving the goals and raising the energy performance of buildings, namely in the realization of projects and the promotion of energy efficiency, are the lack of capacities human resources (completion of AKEE with professional staff) and special funds (although since last year, the green light for the establishment of the fund for EE has been legally given, but it has not yet been operationalized).
The Kosovo Agency for Energy Efficiency (AKEE) and the Ministry of Economic Development (MZE) are the two institutions responsible for achieving Kosovo's Energy Efficiency goals and harmonizing local legislation with the EU acquis.
However, according to the former head of AKEE, Bedri Dragusha, the realization of these common obligations remains quite challenging as a result of the insufficient allocation of financial resources by the Government, the non-implementation of projects related to efficient measures in public buildings as well as the slow implementation of projects financed by some international institutions.
While the current head of the Kosovo Agency for Energy Efficiency, Arsim Kuliqi, emphasizes that the mixed and unclear competences between the various institutions that deal with the field of energy, namely the efficiency of energy. "Competences in the institutions are mixed and this is costing them all institutions and Kosovo. The reports from the local level are always made to us at the Agency, while the development of policies and their implementation is complicated and mixed, which constitute another challenge for AKEE, which is costing the smooth running of the works", says Kuliqi, leaving understand that the dissatisfaction has to do with the Ministry of Economic Development.
The head of AKEE further indicates that there is continuous criticism from local and central level institutions on this issue, because the Department of Energy has created confusion even within the municipalities by interfering with the powers of AKEE and for now there is no address for energy efficiency. As a result of this problem, the progress of work in the municipalities which have some legal obligations towards AKEE is challenging, says Kuliqi.
The Department of Energy, which is part of the Ministry of Economic Development, was contacted about the problem of competences for the implementation of energy efficiency policies. Rrezartë Zjaça Dedaj, senior official for energy efficiency in the Department of Energy affirms that DE and AKEE cooperate in a very constructive way for each project, but points out that so far the Department of Energy has only done promotional campaigns and every efficient measure which have undertaken was of a promotional nature. She further emphasizes that the responsibilities for energy efficiency, even though they are divided, as the best solution is seen to be the drafting by the Department of Energy, the implementation by the Energy Efficiency Fund and the reporting of policies and action plans by the Energy Agency. Kosovo for Energy Efficiency.
In addition to the two aforementioned institutions, the Ministry of Public Administration is also responsible for some work related to energy efficiency in public buildings.
Arif Daka, director of the Department for Standards and Policy of Engineering and Management of Government Buildings within MAP, says that they are responsible for the direct management of 65 government buildings and have access to all costs of electricity, heating, water, etc. .
Out of the 65 buildings managed by this ministry, audits were done in three buildings, while they requested to be audited somewhere around 17 of them. Of the three audited buildings, only one of them has implemented energy efficient measures in the building where two ministries are located: the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports as well as the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development. While the audit has been completed in the building of the Kosovo Statistics Agency and the building of the State Archives Agency of Kosovo. But the implementation of efficient measures, according to Dhaka, has not yet happened.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, through the Department for Spatial Planning, Construction and Housing, has been the bearer of several legal acts that aim to increase energy performance in buildings. The official for the modernization of construction and pilot projects in MESP, Arben Ajazi, says that this Ministry has been the sponsor of the Law on Energy Performance in Buildings (No. 05/L-101) as well as the bearer of several by-laws that regulate: Energy Saving Thermal; Minimum Energy Performance Requirements in Buildings; as well as Energy Performance Certification in Buildings. "Well, this ministry is not called for the implementation of any efficient measure, only sponsoring some laws and carrying some by-laws", adds Ajazi.
How many public buildings are there and how many millions of euros are spent on energy
Referring to the INDEP report – Financing Energy Efficiency in Kosovo, the implementation of EU measures and standards in Kosovo will be very challenging, especially since the building of energy capacities continues to rely on fossil fuel sources.
Meanwhile, in order to take concrete steps in the direction of reducing electricity costs, which means reducing the chances of damaging the environment, INDEP has asked the state institutions to show seriousness in this aspect and undertake emergency actions.
A project that offers the opportunity to the Government and Municipalities to reduce their budget expenses is energy efficiency in public buildings. According to statistics obtained from the report of the European Commission - Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance 2014-2020: EU Support for the Energy Efficiency Fund, the Government of Kosovo spends over 22 million euros per year on energy bills in public buildings . However, it could save 20%-30% per year if efficient energy measures were implemented. The government owns 369 public buildings. The total energy consumption per year is about 90,000 Megawatts per Hour (MWh), or over 6 million euros. The residential sector represents the largest part of energy consumption with 39%, industry 27%, transport 23%, services or the public sector consumes 9% and agriculture 2%. The stock of municipal buildings includes about 1,600 buildings with a total energy consumption of about 217,000 (MWh) per year, or close to 16 million euros. Municipal buildings are mainly schools, kindergartens, health centers and municipal administration buildings. Apart from buildings, the major sector of energy consumption is public roads with about 35 GWh per year, or 4.5 million euros per year.
The EU creates a special fund for energy efficiency in Kosovo
The European Union Office in Kosovo, through the report of the European Commission - Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance 2014-2020, has requested the EU institutions to help Kosovo in creating a special fund for Energy Efficiency. This Fund was created at the end of February 2019, where the main donor is the EU. According to the same report, it is explained that the Fund will finance efficient energy measures in public buildings such as: schools, kindergartens, health buildings, hospitals and other public buildings. Investing refunded through bill the reduced of energy. IN this case, building continues to pay the same level of energy bill, while the difference before and after the implementation of energy efficiency measures is returned to the fund through an energy service agreement or similar.
However, the projects in which AKEE and MZE are engaged are mainly financed by international institutions. Since the war, international institutions have invested in public institutions and enterprises in Kosovo. Within these investments, energy efficiency is included.
Some of the donors who have contributed in this field are: the European Commission with 16.5 million euros and the World Bank with 31 million dollars (Loan), a project which is still being implemented. Likewise, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), through a type of loan granted to commercial banks, has invested in projects for residential buildings.
However, there is no accurate data on the amount of those loans and whether they were allocated for the defined purpose, at least officially the country's institutions do not possess this data. "There was also a problem with the EBRD, which did not report to the country's institutions about the progress of the project", says Dragusha.
The EBRD was also contacted about this issue, but they were not ready to provide any answer about this project, except that they said via email: "The data for GEFF - Green Economy Financing Facility, with the general public are public and online" . 1
But there is no report on their website that would tell more about this project whether the means are intended for the specific purpose.
Civil society has also raised concerns about the sustainability of implemented projects.
"Usually, projects are developed within certain time limits, but rarely is their real impact measured or the continuity of the project is ensured in the longer term, in which case the projects would have more impact and would ensure sustainability ", says Learta Hollaj from INDEP, to add that the key problem for the success of many projects is the lack of transparency in money management and the lack of monitoring of project achievements.
Based on the project documents published on the website of AKEE, investments on efficient measures are taking place, even in some objects the works have been completed.
It has mainly been invested in six different types of buildings: prosecutor's office and court buildings; industrial buildings; public educational institutions such as universities and schools; regional hospitals and family medicine centers; transport buildings; as well as in the "Near Zero Energy House" pilot project in public buildings.
Some EU investments have been made in cooperation with the Department for Standards and Policy of Engineering and Management of Government Buildings within the MAP, where it is shown that one of the most efficient buildings is the Palace of Justice, which has an area
50,000 m2 . Arif Daka, director in the Department of Engineering Standards and Policy and management of BUILDING GOVERNMENT IN WITHIN of MAP, say that this object IN report with other buildings it has been successful in terms of efficiency considering that the building insulation is very good, the windows and doors are efficient, the lighting inside the building is with economical lights and has resulted in a drastic reduction in consumption as well as being very efficient for because it is supplied with electricity from photovoltaic panels and heated with geothermal pumps. After a comparison of some buildings with the Palace of Justice, Dhaka shows that the big changes in terms of energy saving have been observed and this department has made a decision to change the lighting in government buildings from fluorescent ones to economical ones and look at the possibilities in other interventions. So far, they have intervened in 22 buildings, for the change of electric sockets with LED ones, says Daka.
There is neither information nor effects from spending funds for promotion
Although since 2008, it has been working on raising awareness among citizens about the importance of energy efficiency in cooperation with international institutions, but the projects have not shown success, says Dragusha. AKEE, according to its boss, Arsim Kuliqi, received this competence for promotion in 2018, since until recently it was within the Ministry of Education and Culture. "The money that has been allocated by MZE for the promotion of EE and RES has been 50,000 euros for each year, but AKEE does not have accurate information on where it has been allocated these tools", emphasizes Kuliqi.
The head of this Agency have shown that from 2018 they have a program, not very comprehensive, for energy efficiency that has a promotional character for the local level, while they emphasize that there should be millions of investments to achieve a full awareness of citizens about EE- of.
"The key problem in implementing projects and achieving results in Kosovo, especially in projects aimed at promoting energy efficiency, is the lack of monitoring. In the absence of monitoring mechanisms, the results are not seen and, moreover, the opportunity to learn from potential omissions or to continuously improve work is lost", says Learta Hollaj from the non-governmental organization INDEP.
In addition to state institutions, civil society has also undertaken several initiatives for the promotion of EE. "The projects implemented by civil society have not managed to show the desired results or to raise awareness of the importance of these measures to the desired level. Although the awareness campaigns are evaluated as appropriate mechanisms, the problem lies in the way of design, limited funds and the lack of sustainability of the projects", says Hollaj. "The government does not have any concrete plan for the implementation of projects or campaigns that promote energy efficiency. In order to ensure the real impact of these initiatives, the Government should dedicate itself in this direction more systematically. There are different ways this can be done, such as note of the day, month or even year of Energy Efficiency", says Hollaj.
Municipalities do not respect the Law on Energy Efficiency
There has been no progress even at the local level. In all the big cities of Kosovo: Ferizaj, Gjakovë, Gjilan, Mitrovica, Pejë, Prishtina and Prizren, there is a delay in the drafting of the 2019-2021 municipal plans for energy efficiency. Although obliged by law, the municipalities do not have an office for energy efficiency, energy managers, nor special funds for the application of efficient measures.Based on Article 6 of the Law on Energy Efficiency (No. 06/L-079), starting from February 28, 2019, every three years, municipalities prepare and submit to AKEE the draft municipal action plans for efficiency of energy. These plans should include policies and measures proposed to improve energy efficiency in all sectors operating at the municipal level. Findings during the interview in the aforementioned municipalities show that all municipalities have invested in public lighting as a type of energy efficiency, while the municipalities of Pristina and Gjakova have also invested in city heaters as an efficient measure.
Also, from the interviews with those responsible for energy efficiency in the municipalities, they show that none of the municipalities has strictly implemented the obligations stemming from the energy efficiency law as well as from the by-laws for performance in buildings sponsored by MESP, this as a result of the non-allocation of a special fund by the municipalities for the promotion of energy efficiency, and all the interviewees in the aforementioned municipalities point to this need. Also, during their interview, it was said that there is still no concrete regulation that would force the municipalities to take efficient measures in their buildings. But this is not due to the fact that now since the end of 2018 the new law on Energy Efficiency has been approved and the municipalities will promote the national policies for energy efficiency at the local level, and will inform the citizens about the benefits of efficient measures for increasing energy efficiency and how to achieve them. According to the head of the Kosovo Agency for Energy Efficiency, Arsim Kuliqi, in the municipalities of Kosovo, additional powers have been transferred to some officials, in order to complete the professional framework and carry out the obligations of work and responsibilities according to the Law on Energy Efficiency.
All municipalities are obliged to draw up the municipal action plan for energy efficiency, for the period 2019 - 2021, but so far, according to the information they have sent via email in the written request sent to the municipalities, it can be seen that only Gjilan e has finalized this plan, while other municipalities only have drafts that have not yet been approved by the Municipal Assemblies. The fact that there is no monitoring or statistical report on the measures that the municipalities are undertaking and the impact they have on achieving strategic objectives, goals and increasing the performance of buildings is also worrying.
Meanwhile, according to the reports sent by the municipalities to the Kosovo Agency for Energy Efficiency, it can be seen that all the initiatives that have been undertaken at the local level have been supported by donations and foreign projects. The number of independent municipal interventions is low in their buildings. Some efficient measures that the municipalities themselves have undertaken are the change of public lighting with more economical lights, while in cooperation with GIZ the municipalities WILL to use program ENMASOFT, of who there are like view of make management e power
in buildings and calculate all costs in buildings. Some Municipalities have had public heating as an efficient measure, namely the Municipality of Pristina through Termokos and the Municipality of Gjakova through the City Heater.
Kuliqi says that "At the request of AKEA, all municipalities have appointed an energy efficiency coordinator and this happened with the support of donors, we have trained municipal officials on the implementation of energy efficiency policies and their reporting to AKEA , this investment continues even today in order to raise professional capacities for energy efficiency at local levels, as they have a legal and national obligation". He further shows that there are investments in energy efficiency by the municipalities, but they are not called such, or they are called renovations or reconstruction.
Rrezartë Zjaça Dedaj, senior official for energy efficiency in the Department of Energy, says that "The problem that the municipalities do not call intervention measures, efficient measures has been until the last two years and this has caused major problems since the Department of Energy has not been able to consider efficient measures".
Dedaj says that there should be more will and seriousness from the institutions to realize the objectives for raising energy efficiency in public buildings, stressing that the 9% target for energy efficiency is far from being realized since Kosovo has reached close to 4.6% from 9 % of the planned plan.
Box:
Energy legal framework
The legal framework that regulates the energy field in Kosovo is partially in line with the EU acquis. The main acts that regulate this field are: Law on Energy (No. 05/L-081); Law on Energy Efficiency (No. 06/L-079); Administrative Instruction for Energy Audit (No. 01/2012); Law on Energy Performance in Buildings (No. 05/L-101); Heating and Air Conditioning Inspection Regulation (MESP No. 01/2018); Law on Electricity (No. 05/L – 085); Law on the Energy Regulator (No. 05/L-084); Law on Construction (No. 04/L-110).
With the Action Plan for Energy Efficiency, Kosovo throughout the period 2010-2018 has aimed to reach the goal of 9% in saving electricity. However, the institutions have lagged behind in achieving these objectives. The great dependence on fossil resources, the lack of human and financial capacities, the unsustainability of projects, the lack of monitoring mechanisms, old and unrenovated buildings continue to present a problem in increasing energy efficiency. The objectives are an obligation for Kosovo also from the Stabilization-Association Agreement and the Energy Community, while the countries of the European Union are aiming at least to reach the 20% target in the next two years. However, in order to take concrete steps in the direction of reducing electricity costs, which means reducing the chances of damaging the environment, it remains for the state institutions to show seriousness in this aspect and undertake emergency actions.