23 September, 2022. This week we had the pleasure of talking with Anabella Ruiz, energy efficiency coordinator of the Renewable Energy Directorate of the Ministry of Energy of the Ministry of Economy of Argentina.
She has a degree in Economics from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) and specialized in the local development of urban areas. In addition, Anabella has a Diploma in Smart Cities and Sustainable Development from the Technological Institute of Buenos Aires (ITBA). In her more than 10 years of professional experience, she has carried out proposals and projects for social and sustainable development.
#SheLeadsTheChange
What is your main mission in the Renewable Energy Directorate?
Currently, I coordinate public policy actions that promote energy efficiency within the framework of the Renewable Energy Directorate, under the Ministry of Energy of the Ministry of Economy of Argentina. I participate in the design, development and evaluation of initiatives for consolidating energy efficiency in our country.
Can you tell us more about the project "Mitigation of greenhouse gases and adaptation to the impacts of climate change in Latin America by strengthening energy efficiency in strategic sectors of Argentina and Chile"?
It is a project funded by EUROCLIMA+, which is the European Union (EU) Programme that promotes environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient development in Latin American countries. It is a binational project carried out by the Ministry of Energy of the Ministry of Economy of Argentina, the Ministry of Energy of Chile and the Energy Sustainability Agency of Chile, and which aims to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases by strengthening the energy efficiency measures contained in the Nationally Determined Contributions of Argentina and Chile. It aims to strengthen energy efficiency policies, norms, standards, tools and best practices through the transfer of knowledge between the two countries.
It is a very ambitious and super challenging project, since it contemplates achieving numerous results considered strategic with their high potential for energy efficiency and its replicative and demonstrative capacity, and it requires a lot of articulation and collaborative work between the different professional teams of both countries.
These expected results include the implementation of Energy Management Systems in 20 energy-intensive companies, training and energy diagnostics in 200 SMEs, the awareness and training of 2,000 people in climate change and energy efficiency, the installation of intelligent systems for the measurement of energy consumption in 30 public buildings, the publication of a guide for municipalities on the implementation of remote management in public lighting, the harmonization and advancement of energy efficiency labelling in both countries and the harmonization of freight transport programs and implementation of technologies and best practices in 20 companies linked to the sector. All this, with a transversal vision in communication, which enables the dissemination, generation and socialization of knowledge for the entire region.
You can find all the details, advances, news and documents published at www.euroclimaplusargentinachile.org
Are there currently energy efficiency policies in the Government of Argentina?
From the Directorate of Renewable Energies we carry out the different public policies in terms of energy efficiency, attentive to the requirements and needs of the different sectors of activity: productive, public, residential and transport. Likewise, there are transversal areas of work dedicated to the survey and evaluation of energy consumption, as well as to the generation of capacities and awareness in the efficient use of energy.
With regard to the public sector, there is the Programme for the Rational and Efficient Use of Energy in Public Buildings (PROUREE), which aims to reduce consumption levels in the buildings of the National Public Administration (APN). During the last year, there has been an increase in the interest of the agencies to join this programme, which translated into an exponential increase in the registration of energy managers and real estate and the loading of consumption data for the energy review.
Likewise, the Efficient Lighting Plan (PLAE) is in force, which consists of replacing existing luminaires with LED technology. In 2022, more than 10,000 public lighting fixtures were replaced with an estimated savings equivalent to the consumption of approximately 3,000 homes, thus avoiding the emission of 4,843 TonCO2.
As for the productive sectors, the work with the Learning Networks in Energy Management Systems stands out, which seek to improve the energy performance of the participating organizations, through a collaborative work methodology. At the moment, 7 networks have been made formed with 79 organizations from 9 Argentine provinces, and this year we will be promoting 3 more.
In terms of energy efficiency labelling, a major milestone this year has been the entry into force of the comparative label for new light vehicles, which facilitates the identification of the most efficient vehicles in terms of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
For the residential sector, work is being done to consolidate a system of certification for the energy efficiency of homes, unified for the entire national territory, which allows the classification of existing homes or ones under construction, according to their degree of efficiency in their overall requirement of primary energy, through an energy efficiency label.
Other outstanding initiatives include the Educational Manual "Connect with Energy", which is digital educational content developed in collaboration with the Educ.ar Portal of the Ministry of Education and the Energy Efficiency Project in Argentina, funded by the EU. It is a pedagogical resource for educators, compatible with the primary and secondary levels of the educational system, which addresses energy within the framework of sustainability and stewardship of the environment.
You can delve into public policies on energy efficiency at the following link: www.argentina.gob.ar/economia/energia/eficiencia-energetica
What other women have inspired you in your professional career?
I am very fortunate to have had, and have, the possibility to work and share spaces with many women committed to building a more just, supportive and resilient society. Personally, I highlight the mark left by Cristina Cogliati, for giving me methodological tools and encouraging me to take on challenges, being faithful to my ideas.
Source: Low Carbon and Circular Economy Business Action (LCBA) in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Colombia
About EUROCLIMA+
EUROCLIMA+ is a programme funded by the European Union to promote environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient development in 18 Latin American countries, in particular for the benefit of the most vulnerable populations. The Programme is implemented under the synergistic work of seven agencies: the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the French Development Agency (AFD), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Expertise France (EF), the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP), the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) GmbH, and UN Environment.
Contact Information
Fernando Andrade, EUROCLIMA+ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ronald Arce, INCAE Business School This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.