The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) today announced 32 new projects for funding.  The funding round, REEEP's fourth, represented the largest funding round in REEEP's three year history.  "More projects have been funded in the areas of financing models and energy efficiency, than in previous rounds," stated Morgan Bazilian, REEEP Programme Board Chair.  "REEEP has also expanded its priority countries from six to twenty countries and we are engaging some countries for the first time, such as Guatemala, Kazakhstan, Liberia and Tunisia."

The majority of projects are focused on identifying business models, whether that be for solar water heating, small hydro in the tea industry or in developing biofuels across the region. 

The built environment is another area of focus in this year's funding round and a number of energy efficiency projects target the APEC region, most notably China, as well as Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States.  "About one third of energy consumption worldwide is in buildings," stated Marianne Osterkorn, REEEP International Director. "If one assumes that worldwide there is a technical saving potential in energy consumption in buildings in the range of 50 % of energy used in buildings, then today almost 17 % of total global final energy consumption can be avoided due to energy savings measures in buildings.

Speaking specifically about Russia and FSU, there are 4 projects selected:

1) Utilization of biomass for substitution of fossil fuels in the Volga River Region (Russia)

2) Compiling RES legislation for Kazakhstan

3) Building energy efficiency codes in Russia and Kazakhstan

4) Financing municipal energy efficiency (Russia and FSU)

On project on Regional strategy of sustainable energy development in Murmansk region has been put into the wait-list for REEEP funding.

"The projects we're backing promise to deliver replicable models for renewable and energy efficient development.  Our partnership of governments, NGOs and businesses is helping to establish a stable global marketplace for clean energy," explained Ms. Osterkorn.

For more information please visit the REEEP's project webpage.