At UNFCCC COP-4 in 1998, the Georgian delegation submitted a proposal for amendments to the technology transfer decisions for non-Annex I countries with regard the funding of the development of indigenous know-how.
Technical assistance programs were quite effective at the initial stages of national capacity building and strengthening. In addition to reducing and removing financial and institutional barriers, Georgia is developing pilot projects that entail technical assistance and technology transfer.
In this process, Georgia is emphasising the role of the private sector as the primary actor in technology transfer. From the beginning, representatives from the private sector (such as Ltd “Geothermia”, SHPP owners, Ltd “Mze”-Solar energy) have been drawn to the process; they are largely interested in new technologies although they are also interested in improving managerial capacity. [However, industrial businesses with a huge potential to improve energy efficiency are often less interested in climate friendly technology transfer, due in part to the requested energy audit.]
The UNDP/GEF-KfW project “Georgia – Promoting the Use of Renewable Energy Resources for Local Energy Supply” was endorsed on 11 February 2004. The project seeks to remove the key barriers to the increased utilisation of renewable energy for local energy supplies. The project emphasises the leveraging of financial resources to capitalise a proposed Renewable Energy Revolving Fund (see “Georgia’s Renewable Energy Revolving Fund” following Guideline 41(g)
) to sustain its operations and to enhance its possibilities to support renewable energy investments. Moreover, the project foresees the transfer of relevant technology to facilitate rehabilitation of small hydropower plants and a geothermal water supply system, among other activities.
For more information, contact Mrs. Nino Gokhelashvili at gmep@access.sanet.ge