During his mission to the region of Kakheti, Georgia, EU Ambassador Carl Hartzell visited two EU-supported energy efficiency projects in Telavi and Shilda. The projects have won international awards for their achievements and have participated in the EU Sustainable Energy Award for the Eastern Partnership.

The environmentally friendly winery in Georgia ShildaWine won the 2019 EU Sustainable Energy Award for the Eastern Partnership. With support from the EU and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, ShildaWine now uses energy-efficient technologies. The company has reduced its electricity consumption by up to 60% and now saves more than €60,000 per year.

The second EU-funded project ‘Biomass energy and energy-efficient technologies' won third place in the 2020 EU Sustainable Energy Award for the Eastern Partnership. The project helped two kindergartens in Telavi switch to energy-efficient biomass heating.

In an interview with BM Media, Carl Hartzell commented:

“The European Union plans to implement many projects in Kakheti in 2020-2021. We are trying to help the region realize the potential it has in different directions. We will try to use the wine industry and the waste generated from it as much as possible to produce energy. Energy efficiency will allow us to use natural resources to give the region more opportunities for heating. I am glad that the Parliament has adopted a law on energy efficiency, which helps us to take our cooperation to a new level. Ultimately, all of this will benefit the environment, the country and the people.”

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