Ashgabat, 30 April 2021: Online training webinar on “Operation of LED lamps in modern street lighting systems” was organized within the framework of “Sustainable Cities in Turkmenistan: Integrated Green Urban Development in Ashgabat and Avaza” project of UNDP and Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Protection of Turkmenistan. The webinar was attended by the specialists of the Ministry of Energy of Turkmenistan, “Turkmenergo” State Electric Power Corporation, “Ashgabatenergo” PA, Ashgabat city Street Lighting Administration, teachers and students of the State Energy Institute of Turkmenistan (GEIT, Mary city), specialists of “Renewable Energy” Scientific-production center under GEIT as well as specialists and international consultants of Sustainable Cities Project.

The purpose of the webinar was to inform the participants on possibility of application of city street lighting systems, modern LED lamps, energy efficient innovative technologies, street lighting smart grid management, non-volatile lamps that operate through generation of renewable energy sources as well as study of operational peculiarities of abovementioned equipment and technologies in climatic conditions of Turkmenistan.     

During the webinar, presenters addressed jointly implemented project activities that are carried out together with the specialists of Ministry of Energy, GEIT and UNDP on development of draft of new Law of Turkmenistan on Renewable Energy which was adopted by the Mejlis of Turkmenistan on 13 March 2021. Moreover, comprehensive presentation was made on National Strategy on development of renewable energy in Turkmenistan for 2030, which was approved by the Decree of the President of Turkmenistan on 4 December 2020. This strategic new document on renewable energy was developed with UNDP assistance. At present, development of regulatory documents is underway and 10 more regulatory legal acts will be developed with support of UNDP which will contribute to the development of Renewable Energy in the country.

During the webinar international consultants and specialists of the project delivered presentations on international experience on reconstruction of city street lighting systems through introducing the new modern LED lamps and smart grid street lighting management. The presentation covered the economic, technical, ecological, and social benefits that are obtained as a result of (introduction of LED lamps and street lighting smart grid management) abovementioned Project activities. Furthermore, participants have discussed contribution of these activities to international obligations of the country on UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Participants were also familiarized with progress of implemented project activities on pilot sites, which are implemented to demonstrate the outcome from the introduction of city street lighting systems, LED lamps, innovative technologies on energy efficiency, street lighting smart grid management as well as non-volatile lamps that operate through generation of renewable energies.

UNDP project presentation highlighted the support for the creation of scientific laboratories in GEIT on energy efficiency where students can acquire practical experience on energy audit of street lighting, power network, and creation of laboratory for holding of energy audit where scientists of the institute will have the opportunity to conduct scientific research on study of operational peculiarities of LED lamps and street lighting smart grid management in climatic conditions of Turkmenistan.

Implemented and planned practical activities by UNDP project on introduction of innovative technologies on energy efficiency to power industry and development of renewable energies in Turkmenistan include the following areas:

• Introduction of smart grids on street lighting management to city street lighting systems for application of innovative technologies on energy efficiency to power industry;
• Reconstruction of power networks with the installation of modern transformers and thereby shifting them to new a level of voltage at newly added districts of Ashgabat;
• Dismantling of old overhead electricity transmission lines by changing them to modern cable lines;
• Conducting energy audit and introduction of energy efficient technologies at hotel complex of Ashgabat and Avaza;
• Installation of volatile LED lamps on the territory of “Renewable energy” scientific and production center under GEIT whose energy supply is undertaken through solar energy;   
• Installation of modern LED lamps with the introduction of smart grids on street lighting system management on GEIT campus;   
• Support to creation of new educational laboratory in GEIT where students can conduct laboratory works and improve practical skills on development of renewable energy in Turkmenistan and introduction of innovative technologies on energy efficiency to power industry;
• Support for creation of new laboratory at “Renewable Energy” scientific and production center under GEIT to conduct scientific research on energy audit of energy objects.