City Profile

Sliven

City Profile Sliven Introduction The municipality of Sliven is located 300 km east of 's capital of , 100 km from Bourgas, the country's largest commercial port, 130 km from the border with and 130 km from the border with . It has an area of 1,366 km2 and includes 45 villages. With 112,103 inhabitants, it is the eighth largest city in the country. Manufacturing and construction occupy a dominant position in the economic structure. The industrial and tertiary sector is focused on the production and distribution of power, heat and machinery as well as on financial and insurance activities. The average annual unemployment rate is 11.69%.

One of its activities for reducing CO2 emissions (by 10% by 2020 compared to 2005 levels) is the application of energy efficiency measures in municipal buildings. Key examples of these measures include reducing the costs for street lighting in urban areas and renovating existing housing stock.

Sliven has not yet signed the Covenant of Mayors, the topic is still under discussion in the City Council. However, there are plans to submit the Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP) in 2013 if a positive political decision is made.

The Municipal Infrastructure Directorate is responsible for energy and climate policies in Sliven. Energy-Efficient Buildings and Districts

Energy-saving measures in Sliven concern mainly the hydro and thermal insulation of roofs, insulation and cladding with mineral plaster on external walls and replacement of old wooden windows with new more energy efficient ones (PVC joinery). Other measures involve replacing lighting fixtures and building ventilation systems to maintain indoor temperature and humidity levels in buildings.

The Development Plan of for 2007 – 2013 contains also information on the specific priorities, objectives and measures to take towards energy efficiency.

Renewable Energy Sources and Distributed Generation

Regarding renewable energy sources and distributed energy generation, Sliven describes itself as an absolute beginner. Nevertheless, several renewable power applications (biomass, briquettes etc.) have been initiated by private developers. However, the main priority of the Municipal Development Plan is an overall assessment to investigate the potential of other renewable energy sources (i.e. wind, solar, bioenergy, hydrothermal) and integrated policies, including households and the industrial sector.

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Since 2007, the municipality of Sliven has been operating a programme which includes a phased scheme for the renovation of municipally-owned buildings (i.e. public schools and social institutions).

The municipality of Sliven has three social institutions (schools) with solar systems installed, ten kindergartens that use their own solar energy systems and one hospital (‘Dr Ivan Seliminski’ district hospital), which has a solar thermal system for hot water production. Furthermore, there are pellet- fired boilers and other domestic biomass heating systems in different factories and private buildings.

Energy efficiency measures in social infrastructure have been implemented and will lead to energy savings. One more project is underway to improve the energy performance of educational buildings. The overall objective of the project is to provide a high level of energy efficiency at key sites in the municipal educational infrastructure. Apart from that, these improvements aim to contribute to a healthy environment in educational institutions in the city of Sliven as well as improve the ecological state of the city. Those measures will be implemented on different estates (two schools, two nurseries).

Two more projects to reduce the energy consumption of two nurseries are waiting for approval and funding. The projects provide for the installation of energy efficient PVC window frames, waterproofing, insulation, repair and replacement of heaters and boilers, and the installation of a system for hot water. Energy in Urban Transport

Currently, the main activities involve the renovation and expansion of the trolley system and the gasification of busses for urban and intercity transport.

Challenges here are posed by the increased demand for urban public transport and a higher standard of transport services. More indicators have been identified and will be taken into account. The main priority is bringing the municipal transport infrastructure in accordance with the dynamics of economic and social processes. Also a matter of major concern is connecting and opening this infrastructure to adjacent road networks in order to enhance the economic and touristic connection across the south-eastern region. Financing

To implement energy or climate measures, the city of Sliven uses projects funded from operational programmes described in the National Strategic Framework 2007-2013, co-financed by the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund. Various other sources are used, including its own funds, European funds and programmes, private investments through public-private partnerships, donors, sponsors and others.

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Future Visions and Expectations

The municipality of Sliven has developed and adopted a programme for waste management in line with the respective national waste management programme. This programme is concerned with improving the environmental parameters in the municipality. Therefore, the following measures are due to be implemented:

• establishing a regional plant for the processing of municipal solid waste, regional solid waste landfill

• revamping the city’s effluent treatment plant • constructing a water treatment plant (drinking water purification) for Asenovets dam • creating green areas, organically integrated into the architectural framework of settlements in the municipality and qualitative maintenance One of the main priorities of the Sliven municipality is to improve the quality, development and modernisation of technical infrastructure, including: - Upgrading the transport infrastructure of the municipality in accordance with the dynamics associated with the development of economic and social processes. - Exploring opportunities for using alternative renewable energy sources and implementing energy efficiency measures. - Extending, upgrading and modernising the district heating system. Sliven Municipality is implementing several projects in this regard. A number of other projects have been approved or are waiting for approval: - Energy-efficient modernisation of nurseries - Implementation of energy efficiency measures in several schools.

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Doeppersberg 19 42103 Wuppertal GERMANY

City of Sliven

Bulgaria

www.cascadecities.eu

CASCADE is a EU-funded project led by EUROCITIES which aims to design and deliver large-scale networking and mutual learning actions on local energy leadership among members of the EUROCITIES network. The CASCADE consortium is composed of: EUROCITIES, Wuppertal Institut, Koucky & Partners and the following cities: Amaroussion, Amsterdam, Birmingham, , Edinburgh, Eindhoven, Gateshead, Genoa, Gijon, Malmo, Mannheim, Milan, Nantes, Stockholm, Sunderland, Tampere, Terrassa, Venice and Warsaw.

The CASCADE project is co-financed by the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme. The sole responsibility for the content of this report lies with the authors. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union. Neither the EACI nor the European Commission are responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.

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