ICPE concluded professional development training on Sustainable Energy Solutions

Last week, ICPE successfully concluded professional development training on Sustainable Energy Solutions which was jointly organized by UNIDO and the International Center for Promotion of Enterprises (ICPE). The course was hosted by ICPE and took place on 12 – 19 November 2013 in Ljubljana.

While 8-day course of dynamic mix of lecture-based, group works and guided field visits to green enterprises and research centres, the major issues pertaining to sustainable energy by raising awareness amongst a group of selected participants conveying an in-depth understanding of energy policy, technology and financing as planning tools for developing sustainable energy systems were addressed. The selected participants from 18 different countries and 4 continents had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with current and expected trends in sustainable energy solutions with an opportunity to reflect on practical, innovative and cost effective ways to address sustainability problems within the energy industry and systems.

Moreover, the participants and UNIDO experts had a chance to visit and learn about some of Slovenia's most technologically developed companies, Hidria Corporation and Robotina Group, which have shown that also in a small country like Slovenia, there is much place for innovative technologies. The visit at Hidria Institute Klima in Godovič, including Plant visit, focused on Hidria Solartec, renewable energy and energy management presented by Ing. Ivan Rupnik, Deputy President of the Management Board and Ing. Egor Venko, Sales Manager. The visit at Robotina hosted by Mr Devid Palčič, President of Robotina Group and Robotina staff concentrated on Robotina products and R&D topics in domain of solar energy, energy management systems (combining sustainable and traditional), smart grids and energy storage, and smart and sustainable cities.

In addition, the participants visited Jožef Stefan Institute (JSI) where they were welcomed and had presentation about the Institute's activities by Prof Dr Jadran Lenarčič, Director of JSI. Also,  presentations by Prof Dr Vladimir Jovan, Head of Systems and Control Department and his team were held on automatic control of combustion system, particularly important to energy efficiency, development of fuel cells – relevant to renewable energy, rapid testing of advanced control algorithms on industrial environment and algorithm for smoothing the steam consumption.

Furthermore, Ms Mojca Vendramin, MSc., Head of Energy Directorate Division at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Spatial Planning presented the Slovenian Energy Policy in the Framework To 2030 equipping participants with the general objectives of the Slovenian Energy Policy and Priority areas of Energy Policy, namely Energy Efficiency (EE), increased use of RES, and electricity distribution network development with introduction of active networks due to the benefits, obligations and opportunities for boosting economy. Also, Prof Dr Peter Novak, Vice Chairman of Scientific Council of European Environmental Agency, presented on the topic of Future Sustainable Energy System: A Way to Carbon Recycling Society that was followed by active discussion.

At the closing session, Mr Janez Podobnik, ICPE Acting Director General, and Dr Pradeep Monga, Director of Energy and Climate Change at UNIDO, and have highlighted that some good will and readiness for cooperation as well as openness made this training possible. This training was the first course organized jointly by UNIDO and ICPE and made solid foundation for future UNIDO – ICPE cooperation in terms of trainings and technology transfer.

In this regard, it is noteworthy that Mr Janez Podobnik, the Acting Director General of ICPE, is meeting Mr LI Yong, the Director General of UNIDO, to sign Joint Communiqué to intensify the cooperation between UNIDO and ICPE on 18 December 2013 in Vienna.

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