ECI’s Grants Program Second Round Projects

The USAID Energy Capacity Initiative’s Energy Sector Development Grant program is designed to promote the building of a creative partnership between government and civil society organizations (Universities, NGO’s) on priority energy issues.  A key goal of this program is to strengthen bilateral relations between these two segments in connection to priority energy topic/assignments, in areas where needs have been identified by assessments. Partnerships may be of mutual benefit by bringing added value and strengthening quality.
Nine projects have been selected for grants awards this year. ECI received 54 applications in total which were evaluated against criteria listed in the “Request for Applications”. The award for these projects totals 500 000 US Dollars. The projects will be executed over a period of 4 -11 months.
These projects will collect and present both scientific and commercial data to encourage the use of alternative energy and energy efficient technologies and test innovative alternatives to fossil fuels such as pilot wind turbine and geothermal heating projects.

Following projects have been awarded with grants within ECI’s second round of grants program:

1. Grantee: Co-evolutionary Resolutions in Energy
   Project Name: Study of operating safety and security of High Dams in Georgia
   Project Budget: 91, 000.00
   
   The goal of the Grant Project is to improve operating safety of Enguri HPP; determine an optimal operation mode of Enguri in order to prolong operation time and improve operation conditions; establish effective monitoring system of Hydro power stations.

2. Grantee: Renewable Energy Recourses Scientific Centre:Karenergo - 2
   Project Name: Study of wind energy potential including a pilot project in Gori region
   Project Budget: 70, 000.00
   
   The goal of the proposed project is to carry out micro scale research (siting) in Gori Region, calculate indicators for a high capacity wind power station and implement a pilot project of creating 10-15 kW power supply system using a wind turbine.

3. Grantee: Science and Energy
   Project Name: Development of energy scientific magazine – “Energy Online”
   Project Budget: 60, 000.00
   
   The main objective of this Grant Project is to continue support of the three-lingual (Georgian, English, and Russian) online energy journal (“Energy Online”) and respective internet-forum (“Techno-Energy”), including the provision of associated technical and editorial support which was started under a first phase ECI Grant.

4. Grantee: Association of Energy Engineers of Georgia
   Project Name: Alternative energy resources for Stepantsminda
   Project Budget: 45, 000.00
   
   “Alternative energy resources for Stepantsminda” project goal is elaborating alternative possibilities of energy reliability of Stephantzminda region and it’s technical and economical validation.

5. Grantee: Association – Efficient Use of Georgia’s Energy Resources
   Project Name: Study of an energy status and a potential of an administrative unit for development of an energy passport (Dusheti region example)
   Project Budget: 65, 000.00
   
   The goal of the project is to study the present condition of energy supply and energy potential, which will increase energy safety of an administrative unit and create bases for normal functioning of the infrastructure in a region.

6. Grantee: Georgian Geothermal Association
   Project Name: Implementation of geothermal heating pilot project in Khobi
   Project Budget: 85, 000.00
   
   The goal of the project is to carry out a pilot project at the Khobi Regional hospital. The project will rehabilitate hospital’s central heating system by using an existing but currently un-used Geothermal well which is located in the hospital yard.

7. Grantee: Imereti Scientists Union “Spectri”
   Project Name: Students for energy efficiency
   Project Budget: 19, 443.00
   
   The proposed project aims at assistance to energy consumption efficiency in Kutaisi and Imereti regions through raising awareness of different groups of population, motivation of students and active participation in such direction of activities.

8. Grantee: Caucasus Environmental Foundation
   Project Name: Strengthening women in action for sustainable energy development in Gali and  Zugdidi regions.
   Project Budget: 9, 977.00
   
   The project aims at popularization of renewable energy resources in Gali and Zugdidi regions by creating women’s activist group and motivating them to participate in decision making processes on energy in the regions. Target groups of the project will be initiative groups of Georgian and Aphkhaz women who will participate in trainings on renewable energy resources.

9. Grantee: World Experience Georgia
   Project Name: Preliminary estimate of shale gas potential in Georgia and development of          recommendations for its utilization
   Estimated Project Budget: 44,199.00
   
   The main goal of the project is to develop a preliminary estimate of the potential for developing shale gas production in Georgia to develop materials and recommendations for future actions in this direction and to develop the Terms of Reference for future full scale feasibility study of shale gas production in Georgia.

ECI has developed close working relationships and established procedures with all the Grantees to ensure that such grant projects have reached their objectives.