The European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) was held for the first time in the Republic of Moldova from 23 to 29 June. The motto of the week was: "A small step on your part, a big step to Europe", which reflected the main purpose of the event – to promote successful projects on renewable energy and energy efficiency for the benefit of conservation and sustainable climate and energy in Europe.

EUSEW on the initiative of the European Commission is organized since 2006, collecting hundreds of organizations and individuals across Europe and beyond to share best practices, inspire new ideas. RCCY Gutta-Club – coordinator of international project SPARE in Moldova since 2012 and responsible for the educational component in the UNDP project "Energy and biomass in Moldova" – was invited to the opening of the week.

Schoolchildren presented the best practical projects in the field of renewable energy, while students made energy workshops for the public. Betsivu Catalin (lyceum "N.Kasso", p. Kishkareni, region Singerei) – winner of the international competition – showed wind installation made from recycled materials for generating electricity in domestic conditions. Particular interest of the society was created near eco-table-desk, which was invented by students of the Lyceum of the Academy of Sciences in Moldova (Project Coordinator Kravets Ala) – using the power of your own muscles, you can create a comfortable environment during your studies and not waste energy on electronic charge of mobile devices. Solar ovens for cooking and a dryer made by young activists of Gutta-Club, using only clean energy of the sun, can prepare tasty food. In camping conditions even an umbrella turns into alternative energy installation.

The enthusiast young team of Gutta-Club volunteers, coming from the eco-club Discovery (Lyceum "V.Lupu" Chisinau), showed guests of the exhibition opportunities of the simplest energy solutions for Moldova.

During the opening ceremony the Deputy Prime Minister of Economics, Minister Valeriu Lazar said that it is important for Moldova to join the project with regard to the development of sustainable energy. "Sustainable and environmentally friendly energy – the main priority of Moldova".

European Union Ambassador in Moldova, Pirkko Tapiola noted that the European problems of climate and energy security require that by 2020, 20% of the consumed energy in the Republic of Moldova should come from renewable sources. And in the total volume of fuel used, at least 10% should be bio-fuels; until 2020 we need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 25% below 1990.

The responsible for the management of European projects in the field of energy production from biomass – Darras Alexander – underlined that sustainable energy has two aspects: the method of its use (increasing the efficiency of buildings to retain heat, etc.) and the selection of sources of renewable energy that can be solar, wind, geothermal, or derived from biomass. "When we talk about sustainable energy, we need to think long-term".

That's how we started the European Sustainable Energy Week in Moldova for a sustainable future!

Elisabeth Gutu

Gutta-Club, Republic of Moldova