The Bulan Institute launched its Climate Change and Renewable Energy Programme in April 2024 with the aim of fostering the adoption of renewable energy solutions in developing countries. Through capacity building, awareness raising, knowledge generation, and facilitating interstate learning, we aim to contribute to renewable energy adoption and diminish the reliance on fossil fuels.
Our current fossil-fuel-based energy sector is responsible for three-quarters of global greenhouse gas emissions. Governments spend $423 billion annually to subsidize fossil fuels, perpetuating this unsustainable system. Transitioning to sustainable energy sources is imperative to halt the rise in global temperatures and mitigate its devastating effects.
The Climate Change and Renewable Energy Programme of the Bulan Institute seeks to accelerate the energy transition in developing countries, with a tailored focus on achieving net-zero emissions through appropriate energy technologies.
Our Climate Change Programme has three essential pillars:
Promoting Renewable Energy Adoption:
We aim to accelerate the transition towards renewable energy resources, such as solar and wind power, by raising awareness, bringing innovative international experience and supporting local initiatives that facilitate their deployment and integration into existing energy systems.
Capacity Building of Local Specialists:
Our Programme will work for knowledge transfer and skills development. We aim to equip local specialists with the necessary skills required for the installation, selection, and maintenance of solar and wind energy systems. Through targeted training and practical workshops, we foster their technical proficiency and ensure the effective application of renewable energy projects. The Programme will showcase pilot projects so local specialists learn in practice.
Facilitate Interstate Exchange and Learning:
Acknowledging the significance of collaboration and knowledge exchange among countries and regions grappling with comparable climate challenges, our Climate Change Programme prioritizes facilitating interstate exchange and learning. We foster valuable opportunities for knowledge transfer, ensuring that the expertise gained from global experiences contributes to the sustainable development of renewable energy initiatives in developing countries.
Dr Turukmen Zhabudaev is the Head of the Renewable Energy Department at the Kyrgyz State Technical University named after I. Razzakov, Bishkek. He is also an Associate Professor of the Department. In 1995, he graduated from the Kyrgyz Technical University (KTU), Bishkek and obtained a diploma in specialty of Hydroelectric Power Stations. Mr. Zhabudaev is an author of 13 educational-methodical manuals, and four training programs and has published 24 scientific papers in local and international journals and textbooks. He owns the copyright certificate for the program for calculating and selecting the type of hydro-turbines for Micro Hydro Power Station, and the patent for the device for regulating the speed of rotation of the hydroelectric unit of a micro-hydroelectric power station. In 2009, he published the «Hydro-Energetic Mountings» manual for the High Educational Establishments under the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic. Under the USAID-funded project, Mr. Zhabudaev developed a modern curriculum on renewable energy resources for higher educational institutions. He is also led and implemented the project of a network photovoltaic plant with a capacity of 80 kW in Bishkek.
Andreas Dreisiebner, Switzerland
Mr. Andreas Dreidiebner if a Vice-chair of the Group of Experts on Renewable Energy at UNECE and the CEO of Grow Solutions, Switzerland. He is a green energy and sustainable development specialist. His company, Grow Solutions installed dozens of solar and wind projects in Switzerland, Armenia and Georgia, Sibiria in schools, hotels and big companies such as Coca-Cola. In 2001, Andreas was awarded the European Solar Award. Since 2016, he is the President of the energy turnaround cooperative of the Winterthur (www.ewg-winterthur.ch) of Switzerland and a board member of the company Solar Spar.
Kundus Kyrbasheva, Kyrgyz Republic
Ms. Kundus Kyrbasheva is a Chair of the Board of the Association of Renewable Energy Plants in the Kyrgyz Republic. Currently, she is a leader of the Government Acceleration Program on the improvement/simplification of procedures for the implementation of renewable energy projects. She also serves as a Chair of the Energy Committee of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic. As a leader of the Association, she significantly contributed to the expansion of the List of specialized goods and equipment for the construction of energy plants based on the use of renewable energy sources, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic on October 4, 2021 №196. Ms. Kundus Kyrbasheva initiated and played a key role in achieving the exemption from VAT for all equipment designed for renewable energy sources, together with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic. She is an Advisor on Renewable Energy to the Ministry of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic voluntarily. In 2011, she graduated from the Kyrgyz State National University named after J. Balasagyn with a degree in Banking.
Alberto Frigerio, Kazakhstan
With over a decade of experience and a proven track record of success in academia (e.g., nominated as ASU-Cintana Alliance Global Partner Affiliate Faculty for the year 2023-24, winner of the CEEMAN Responsible Management Educator award in 2022, and listed in the Bilim-Orkenieti’s “honorary teachers of higher education in Kazakhstan” in 2020), Dr. Frigerio is currently serving as a Professor of International Relations at Almaty Management University (AlmaU, Kazakhstan). Among his duties, he teaches the course “Sustainable Development: Principles and Practice” to bachelor’s students of IR and conducts research activities in the area of sustainability and civic responsibilities. Recently, he has completed a DKU-UNEP project on green jobs and skills assessment in the Caucasus and Central Asia and has been nominated as an En-ROADS Climate Ambassador.
Dr Ruslan Akparaliev, Kyrgyz Republic
Dr Ruslan Akparaliev is an Associate Professor of the Renewable Energy Sources Department at the Kyrgyz State Technical University named after I. Razzakov. He worked as Deputy Director for Science at the Research Institute of Energy and Economics under the State Committee on Energy and Economics of the Kyrgyz Republic. He published more than 30 scientific papers, 5 patents for invention, and two monographs. Dr. Akparaliev has more than 15 years of accumulated experience and knowledge in conducting scientific research and practical studies in the field of renewable energy sources. He teaches students about green energy transition and has solid experience of working in international projects with USAID, UNECE, Volkswagen and BMF. Under the DAAD scholarship, Ruslan did a research internship at the Technical University of Berlin Boit and won several local and international research excellence prizes.