GWNET brings you the 4th instalment of the “Meet the Women in Energy Empowerment” series which celebrates the work and achievements of the women who are part of the Women in Energy Empowerment Mentoring Programme. This programme is made up of 30 mentee-mentor tandems, with mentees from Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine. Meet mentee, Liudmyla Horbachova, Coordinator of Lviv Energy Efficiency Enterprise Network at Lviv Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Ukraine.
1) Tell us a little about yourself. What do you love most about what you do?
While entering university to pursue studies in an environmental protection speciality, I dreamed of a job that would help save the world in some practical way.
Fortunately, my professional development started in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry with a project with the British government “Business and Environment”, where we launched a series of ecological law seminars for companies. Years after, via climate projects, I’ve focused on energy efficiency.
The thing I love most is to give engineers opportunities for quality professional communications, which are embodied in real energy efficiency projects with good results.
2) What were your goals when you started working in the energy sector? What are your goals today?
My goal was to try an innovative approach to solving energy efficiency challenges in enterprises. Now my goal is to disseminate this approach when companies gather in a professional community, establish measurable energy efficiency and CO2 reduction goals, and support companies in achieving their goals. Besides, I would like to attract some governments’ support for such companies.
3) What are the opportunities for sustainable energy in your country?
The share of renewable energy in Ukraine is about 12% and the goal is to reach 25% by 2035. The success of this transition depends on many factors – rules and regulations, financial and technical factors. But the opportunities are rather good.
Regarding sustainable energy, which includes collection and distribution, I’m not sure that I have the full picture. I know that in my country there are dramatically high transportation losses, so the potential for improvement is huge. The New Energy Strategy 2050 should fully cover this aspect.
I can tell you about my experience with energy efficiency challenges in companies. For example, low prioritisation of energy efficiency issues by the top-managers of SMEs. We are (with my colleague) trying to overcome this through our activities.
Also, I was faced with misunderstanding over the importance of support for enterprises from the authorities. They focused only on local social problems, neglecting the needs of companies, which are actually the basis of economic growth.
In 5 years I would like to create and head the organisation, which will lead hundreds of companies to energy efficiency via community activities like Learning Energy Efficiency Networks (LEEN).
Also, I would like to take part in attracting different kinds of support for such companies and improve the promotion of LEENs, leading to governmental support of energy efficiency in companies. My expectations from this mentoring programme are around these interests and goals.
6) What advice would you give to women hoping to join the sustainable energy sector?
Women should be aware that they will be involved in a great transition process and their work is important! Women more than men are prone to take into account ecological and social factors. So our planet deserves your sustainable decisions!
Read more about GWNET’s mentoring programmes here.
