OREANDA-NEWS. September 25, 2012. At cabinet meeting, the Government approved the sales of approximately 11 million unused emission rights or Assigned Amount Units (AAUs) to the Republic of Austria. The proceeds will be invested into energy efficiency upgrade of streetlighting systems of seven cities, into renovation of district heating pipelines in thirteen regions and into reconstruction of eleven boilerhouses.

In accordance with the bilateral agreement the contract monetary value remains confidential.

Following the agreement with Austria, seven medium-sized cities with a population of 8000-15000 will be able to participate in the streetlighting energy efficiency programme including Kuressaare, Valga, Voru, Johvi, Haapsalu, Keila and Paide. In order to participate in the programme the cities will have to cover self-financing of ten percent and the VAT of the project. The objective of the streetlighting programme is to establish high quality energy efficient lighting systems for the chosen cities by using best available technology.

Together with today’s agreement, Estonia has under the Green Investment Scheme concluded 21 transactions for the sales of unused Kyoto emission rights with the total proceeds nearing 400 million Euros. The proceeds are among others invested into the renovation of 480 state and municipal buildings and hundreds of apartment and private houses, into establishment of 3 wind farms and 6 combined heat and power plants, into renovation of 15 boilerhouses and several hundred kms of district heating networks.

Furthermore, state social workers and other public servants have taken into use 507 electric vehicles and a country-wide electric vehicle quick charging network and a grant scheme to support the purchase of electric vehicles is being established. Finally, 120 energy efficient buses have been procured to operate on county lines, new modern trams are procured for Tallinn city and new buses and energy efficient stage lighting systems are procured for the Estonian theatres.